Putting words together
Saying what you’re thinking about
Pensar en + noun or infinitive
Use pensar en to say what or whom you are thinking about.
The pattern
- Pensar en + person or thing.
- Pensar en + infinitive: thinking about doing something.
Pienso en mi abuela.
I think about my grandmother.
Why it works: En introduces the person on your mind.
Notice the difference
Pienso en viajar. / Pienso viajar.
I am thinking about traveling. / I intend to travel.
Why it works: With en, travel is something you are considering. Without en, pensar + infinitive expresses an intention.
One thing to watch for
Do not add en automatically to every use of pensar. It depends on whether you mean “think about” or “intend.”