penser/pɑ̃.se/
verb · A2 · Frequency 102
verb
Meanings
to think, reflect
Used for general thinking or reflecting actions.
to think, believe
Used to express holding an opinion or belief.
to conceive, think up
Used to express conceiving or planning something mentally.
to think of someone
Used to express remembrance or fond thinking of someone.
to intend or plan to do something
Used to express intention or plan for future actions.
Examples
Pour penser clairement, elle s'installe dans une pièce calme.
To think clearly, she sits in a quiet room.
Il est difficile de penser que cette histoire soit vraie.
It is difficult to think that this story is true.
L'équipe veut penser un projet accessible à tous.
The team wants to conceive a project accessible to everyone.
Quand je voyage, j'aime penser à mes grands-parents.
When I travel, I like to think fondly of my grandparents.
Collocations
- penser profondémentto think deeply
- penser queto think that
- penser à faire quelque choseto intend to do something
Common mistakes
Je pense à qu'il viendra demain.
Je pense qu'il viendra demain.
When penser means “to think/believe,” it is followed by que plus a clause; penser à must be followed by a noun or pronoun, not a que-clause.
Related words
synonymsongerto think about, consider, ponder, imagine
Grammar note
Penser à is used to express thinking about or remembering someone or something; penser de is used to ask or express an opinion about something.
verb
Meanings
to think, reflect
Used for general thinking or reflecting actions.
to think, believe
Used to express holding an opinion or belief.
to conceive, think up
Used to express conceiving or planning something mentally.
to think of someone
Used to express remembrance or fond thinking of someone.
to intend or plan to do something
Used to express intention or plan for future actions.
Examples
En pensant attentivement au problème, elle a trouvé une solution simple.
By thinking carefully about the problem, she found a simple solution.
Pensant que le magasin serait fermé, il a fait ses courses la veille.
Thinking that the store would be closed, he did his shopping the day before.
Pensant un nouvel aménagement pour la bibliothèque, l'architecte a consulté les lecteurs.
While conceiving a new layout for the library, the architect consulted the readers.
Pensant avec nostalgie à son village, elle regardait les vieilles photographies.
Thinking fondly of her village, she looked through the old photographs.
Grammar note
Penser à is used to express thinking about or remembering someone or something; penser de is used to ask or express an opinion about something.
verb
Meanings
to think, reflect
Used for general thinking or reflecting actions.
to think, believe
Used to express holding an opinion or belief.
to conceive, think up
Used to express conceiving or planning something mentally.
to think of someone
Used to express remembrance or fond thinking of someone.
to intend or plan to do something
Used to express intention or plan for future actions.
Examples
Après avoir longtemps pensé au problème, elle a trouvé une solution simple.
After thinking about the problem for a long time, she found a simple solution.
J'ai pensé qu'il arriverait avant la nuit.
I thought he would arrive before nightfall.
Le programme a été pensé pour être accessible aux débutants.
The program was conceived to be accessible to beginners.
J'ai pensé à ma grand-mère en voyant ce vieux fauteuil.
I thought of my grandmother when I saw this old armchair.
Collocations
- penser profondémentto think deeply
- penser queto think that
- penser à faire quelque choseto intend to do something
Common mistakes
Je pense à qu'il viendra demain.
Je pense qu'il viendra demain.
When penser means “to think/believe,” it is followed by que plus a clause; penser à must be followed by a noun or pronoun, not a que-clause.
Related words
synonymsongerto think about, consider, ponder, imagine
Grammar note
Penser à is used to express thinking about or remembering someone or something; penser de is used to ask or express an opinion about something.
verb
Meanings
to think, reflect
Used for general thinking or reflecting actions.
to think, believe
Used to express holding an opinion or belief.
to conceive, think up
Used to express conceiving or planning something mentally.
to think of someone
Used to express remembrance or fond thinking of someone.
to intend or plan to do something
Used to express intention or plan for future actions.
Examples
Quand elle lit, elle pense à chaque détail du problème.
When she reads, she concentrates on every detail of the problem.
Il pense que le train arrivera avant midi.
He thinks that the train will arrive before noon.
L'architecte pense un espace simple et lumineux pour la bibliothèque.
The architect conceives a simple, bright space for the library.
Chaque fois qu'elle entend cette chanson, elle pense à sa grand-mère.
Whenever she hears this song, she thinks fondly of her grandmother.
Collocations
- penser profondémentto think deeply
- penser queto think that
- penser à faire quelque choseto intend to do something
Common mistakes
Je pense à qu'il viendra demain.
Je pense qu'il viendra demain.
When penser means “to think/believe,” it is followed by que plus a clause; penser à must be followed by a noun or pronoun, not a que-clause.
Related words
synonymsongerto think about, consider, ponder, imagine
Grammar note
Penser à is used to express thinking about or remembering someone or something; penser de is used to ask or express an opinion about something.
verb
Meanings
to think, reflect
Used for general thinking or reflecting actions.
to think, believe
Used to express holding an opinion or belief.
to conceive, think up
Used to express conceiving or planning something mentally.
to think of someone
Used to express remembrance or fond thinking of someone.
to intend or plan to do something
Used to express intention or plan for future actions.
Examples
Tu penses à ton examen depuis plusieurs jours.
You have been thinking about your exam for several days.
Tu penses que le train arrivera à l'heure.
You think the train will arrive on time.
Tu penses à une nouvelle façon de classer les dossiers.
You are conceiving a new way to organize the files.
Tu penses souvent à ta grand-mère quand tu cuisines cette soupe.
You often think fondly of your grandmother when you cook this soup.
Grammar note
Penser à is used to express thinking about or remembering someone or something; penser de is used to ask or express an opinion about something.