Irregular verb

pensar
to think

Complete conjugation reference for pensar (to think) — all 13 tenses with example sentences, grammar notes and GCSE tips.

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GCSE & A-Level
Pensar appears in virtually every GCSE writing and speaking task. Practice typing the conjugations below until recall is automatic.
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Pensar — all 13 tenses

Pensar is a high-frequency irregular -arr verb meaning to think.

Indicative
Presente guide →
yopienso
piensas
élpiensa
nospensamos
vospensáis
ellospiensan
Pretérito Indefinido guide →
yopensé
pensaste
élpensó
nospensamos
vospensasteis
ellospensaron
Pretérito Imperfecto guide →
yopensaba
pensabas
élpensaba
nospensábamos
vospensabais
ellospensaban
Futuro guide →
yopensaré
pensarás
élpensará
nospensaremos
vospensaréis
ellospensarán
Condicional guide →
yopensaría
pensarías
élpensaría
nospensaríamos
vospensaríais
ellospensarían
Pretérito Perfecto guide →
yohe pensado
has pensado
élha pensado
noshemos pensado
voshabéis pensado
elloshan pensado
Pluscuamperfecto guide →
yohabía pensado
habías pensado
élhabía pensado
noshabíamos pensado
voshabíais pensado
elloshabían pensado
Futuro Compuesto guide →
yohabré pensado
habrás pensado
élhabrá pensado
noshabremos pensado
voshabréis pensado
elloshabrán pensado
Presente Progresivo guide →
yoestoy pensando
estás pensando
élestá pensando
nosestamos pensando
vosestáis pensando
ellosestán pensando
Subjunctive
Pres. Subjuntivo guide →
yopiense
pienses
élpiense
nospensemos
vospenséis
ellospiensen
Imperf. Subjuntivo guide →
yopensara
pensaras
élpensara
nospensáramos
vospensarais
ellospensaran
Imperative
Imperativo guide →
yo
piensa
élpiense
nospensemos
vospensad
ellospiensen

Example sentences with pensar

Pienso que es interesante.
I think it is interesting.
¿Qué piensas?
What do you think?
Pienso en mis amigos.
I think about my friends.

Common mistakes with pensar

⚠ Common mistakes

Make sure you apply the correct endings for pensar in each tense and pronoun. Check the tables above and practice regularly.

Grammar notes

Presente

Stem-changing verb (e→ie): the stem vowel changes in all forms except nosotros and vosotros, which keep the original stem.

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Practice pensar — all tenses → Just present tense →

Quick quiz — pensar

Three questions. Press Enter to check each answer.

vosotros (Pretérito Indefinido)
yo (Presente)
ellos / ellas (Futuro)

Frequently asked questions

How do you conjugate pensar in the present tense?

yo: pienso, tú: piensas, él: piensa, nosotros: pensamos, vosotros: pensáis, ellos: piensan

Is pensar a regular or irregular verb?

Pensar is irregular.

How do you use pensar in a GCSE Spanish essay?

Use pensar in multiple tenses to show range — present, preterite and future at minimum. This is a key criterion for higher GCSE marks.

Related verbs

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