Pensar Conjugation: All Spanish Tenses

Pensar (to think, to reflect) is an irregular -ar verb with an e-ie stem change: the stem e turns into ie in the stressed forms (pienso, piensas, piensa, piensan; piense), while in the preterite, imperfect and future the stem stays the same (pensé, pensaba, pensaré).

Indicative Tenses of Pensar

Pensar in the Present (Presente)

Opinions, current facts and present reflections: Pienso que tienes razón (I think you are right).

Present tense rules →

Pensar in the Preterite (Pretérito indefinido)

Completed reflections or decisions at a specific past moment: Ayer pensé mucho en tu propuesta (Yesterday I thought a lot about your proposal).

Preterite rules →

Pensar in the Present Perfect (Pretérito perfecto)

Past reflection connected to the present: Hoy he pensado en cambiar de trabajo (Today I have thought about changing jobs).

Present perfect rules →

Pensar in the Imperfect (Pretérito imperfecto)

Habitual or ongoing reflections in the past: De joven pensaba que todo era fácil (When I was young I used to think everything was easy).

Imperfect rules →

Pensar in the Past Perfect (Pluscuamperfecto)

A reflection before another past action: Cuando me llamó, ya había pensado la respuesta (When he called me, I had already thought of the answer).

Past perfect rules →

Pensar in the Future (Futuro simple)

Plans and predictions: Mañana pensaré en una solución (Tomorrow I will think of a solution).

Future tense rules →

Pensar in the Future Perfect (Futuro perfecto)

An action that will be completed in the future: Para el lunes ya habré pensado qué hacer (By Monday I will have thought about what to do).

Future perfect rules →

Pensar in the Conditional (Condicional simple)

Advice and hypothetical situations: Yo en tu lugar pensaría bien la decisión (If I were you, I would think the decision over carefully).

Conditional rules →

Pensar in the Conditional Perfect (Condicional compuesto)

Hypotheses about the past: Habría pensado en ti, pero no sabía nada (I would have thought of you, but I didn't know anything).

Conditional perfect rules →

Subjunctive Tenses of Pensar

Present Subjunctive of Pensar (Presente de subjuntivo)

Wishes, doubts and emotions: Quiero que pienses bien antes de decidir (I want you to think carefully before deciding).

Present subjunctive rules →

Present Perfect Subjunctive of Pensar (Pretérito perfecto de subjuntivo)

Evaluating a recent past action: Espero que hayas pensado en las consecuencias (I hope you have thought about the consequences).

Perfect subjunctive rules →

Imperfect Subjunctive of Pensar (Pretérito imperfecto de subjuntivo)

Hypothetical conditions: Si pensaras un poco más, no te equivocarías (If you thought a little more, you wouldn't make mistakes).

Imperfect subjunctive rules →

Past Perfect Subjunctive of Pensar (Pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo)

Unreal hypotheses about the past: Si hubieras pensado antes, todo sería distinto (If you had thought earlier, everything would be different).

Past perfect subjunctive rules →

Imperative of Pensar

Affirmative Commands of Pensar (Imperativo afirmativo)

Orders and requests: ¡Piensa antes de hablar! (Think before you speak!)

Affirmative commands rules →

Negative Commands of Pensar (Imperativo negativo)

Prohibitions and negative advice: No pienses tanto en eso (Don't think about it so much).

Negative commands rules →

Expressions with Pensar

• Pensar en voz alta - to think out loud
• Sin pensarlo dos veces - without thinking twice, without hesitation
• Ni lo pienses - don't even think about it, no way
• Pensar mal de alguien - to think badly of someone
• Dar que pensar - to give food for thought, to be thought-provoking