The French verb "penser" means "to think" in English. It is a regular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "penser" across all 5 tenses. New to French verbs? Start with the French verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "penser" in the Present Tense
Présent de l'indicatif Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | pense |
| tu | you (informal) | penses |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | pense |
| nous | we | pensons |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | pensez |
| ils/elles | they | pensent |
On pense que c'est vrai.
We think that it is true.
How to Conjugate "penser" in the Past (completed) Tense
Passé composé Actions completed in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | ai pensé |
| tu | you (informal) | as pensé |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | a pensé |
| nous | we | avons pensé |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | avez pensé |
| ils/elles | they | ont pensé |
Il a pensé à son travail.
He thought about his work.
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Imparfait Actions that were ongoing in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | pensais |
| tu | you (informal) | pensais |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | pensait |
| nous | we | pensions |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | pensiez |
| ils/elles | they | pensaient |
On pensait que c'était une bonne idée.
We thought it was a good idea.
How to Conjugate "penser" in the Future Tense
Futur simple Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | penserai |
| tu | you (informal) | penseras |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | pensera |
| nous | we | penserons |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | penserez |
| ils/elles | they | penseront |
Il pensera à une bonne solution.
He will think of a good solution.
How to Conjugate "penser" in the Would (conditional) Tense
Conditionnel présent Hypothetical actions| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | penserais |
| tu | you (informal) | penserais |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | penserait |
| nous | we | penserions |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | penseriez |
| ils/elles | they | penseraient |
On penserait à cette solution.
One would think of this solution.
Frequently Asked Questions About "penser"
Is "penser" regular or irregular in French?
"Penser" is a regular French verb that follows standard conjugation patterns for its verb group.
What does "penser" mean in English?
The French verb "penser" means "to think" in English.
How do you conjugate "penser" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Présent de l'indicatif): je → pense, tu → penses, il/elle/on → pense, nous → pensons, vous → pensez, ils/elles → pensent.
How many tenses does "penser" have in French?
"Penser" is conjugated across 5 tenses in French: Present, Past (completed), Past (ongoing), Future, Would (conditional).
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