← L'Anglais: Un Voyage Linguistique
The French verb "penser" means "to think" in English. It is a regular -er verb that follows the standard conjugation pattern of first-group verbs in French. This fundamental verb allows you to express thoughts, opinions, beliefs, and mental processes.
Definition: Penser (verb) - to think, to believe, to consider, to reflect upon
FAQ Schema Q: What does "penser" mean in French? A: "Penser" means "to think" in English. It is used to express mental activities such as thinking, believing, considering, or having an opinion about something.
In this lesson, we will explore how "penser" is used in various contexts. You'll encounter it in different positions within sentences, with different prepositions, and in various tenses. The examples will demonstrate both literal thinking and figurative uses, including expressions like "penser à" (to think about) and "penser de" (to think of/have an opinion about).
Schema - Educational Material Type: Language Learning Material Subject: French for English Speakers Level: Beginner to Intermediate Topic: French verb "penser" (to think) Format: Structured lesson with interlinear translation
-
"Penser" is a regular -er verb meaning "to think" -
It can be followed by different prepositions: à (about), de (of), que (that) -
Common expressions include "je pense que" (I think that) and "qu'est-ce que tu penses?" (what do you think?) -
The verb changes form based on who is doing the thinking (conjugation) -
Understanding "penser" helps express opinions, beliefs, and mental processes in French
53.1 Je I pense think souvent often à about mes my amis friends
53.2 Qu' What est-ce que is it that tu you penses think de of ce this film movie?
53.3 Elle She ne not pense thinks jamais never aux about the conséquences consequences
53.4 Nous We pensons think que that c' it est is une a bonne good idée idea
53.5 À To quoi what pensez think -vous you en in ce this moment moment?
53.6 Les The étudiants students pensent think toujours always aux about the examens exams
53.7 Mon My père father pense thinks acheter to buy une a nouvelle new voiture car
53.8 Je I ne not pense think pas not pouvoir to be able venir to come demain tomorrow
53.9 Ils They pensent think partir to leave en on vacances vacation cet this été summer
53.10 Que What penses think -tu you faire to do ce this weekend weekend?
53.11 Marie Marie pense thinks beaucoup a lot trop too much à about son her travail work
53.12 On One pense thinks souvent often différemment differently des from the autres others
53.13 Le The philosophe philosopher pense thinks donc therefore il he existe exists
53.14 Elles They (f) pensent think toutes all la the même same chose thing
53.15 Plus More j' I y about it pense think, moins less je I comprends understand
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
53.1 Je pense souvent à mes amis. I often think about my friends.
53.2 Qu'est-ce que tu penses de ce film? What do you think of this movie?
53.3 Elle ne pense jamais aux conséquences. She never thinks about the consequences.
53.4 Nous pensons que c'est une bonne idée. We think that it's a good idea.
53.5 À quoi pensez-vous en ce moment? What are you thinking about right now?
53.6 Les étudiants pensent toujours aux examens. The students always think about exams.
53.7 Mon père pense acheter une nouvelle voiture. My father is thinking of buying a new car.
53.8 Je ne pense pas pouvoir venir demain. I don't think I can come tomorrow.
53.9 Ils pensent partir en vacances cet été. They're thinking of going on vacation this summer.
53.10 Que penses-tu faire ce weekend? What are you thinking of doing this weekend?
53.11 Marie pense beaucoup trop à son travail. Marie thinks way too much about her work.
53.12 On pense souvent différemment des autres. One often thinks differently from others.
53.13 Le philosophe pense, donc il existe. The philosopher thinks, therefore he exists.
53.14 Elles pensent toutes la même chose. They all think the same thing.
53.15 Plus j'y pense, moins je comprends. The more I think about it, the less I understand.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
53.1 Je pense souvent à mes amis.
53.2 Qu'est-ce que tu penses de ce film?
53.3 Elle ne pense jamais aux conséquences.
53.4 Nous pensons que c'est une bonne idée.
53.5 À quoi pensez-vous en ce moment?
53.6 Les étudiants pensent toujours aux examens.
53.7 Mon père pense acheter une nouvelle voiture.
53.8 Je ne pense pas pouvoir venir demain.
53.9 Ils pensent partir en vacances cet été.
53.10 Que penses-tu faire ce weekend?
53.11 Marie pense beaucoup trop à son travail.
53.12 On pense souvent différemment des autres.
53.13 Le philosophe pense, donc il existe.
53.14 Elles pensent toutes la même chose.
53.15 Plus j'y pense, moins je comprends.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
Penser is a regular -er verb that follows the standard first conjugation pattern in French. Here's how it works:
Present Tense Conjugation: -
je pense (I think) -
tu penses (you think - informal) -
il/elle/on pense (he/she/one thinks) -
nous pensons (we think) -
vous pensez (you think - formal/plural) -
ils/elles pensent (they think)
Key Constructions: -
Penser à = to think about (someone/something) -
Je pense à toi (I'm thinking about you) -
Elle pense à ses vacances (She's thinking about her vacation) -
Penser de = to think of (have an opinion about) -
Que penses-tu de ce livre? (What do you think of this book?) -
Je pense du bien de lui (I think well of him) -
Penser que = to think that -
Je pense qu'il a raison (I think that he's right) -
Nous pensons que c'est important (We think that it's important) -
Penser + infinitive = to think of doing something -
Je pense partir demain (I'm thinking of leaving tomorrow) -
Elle pense étudier le français (She's thinking of studying French)
-
Forgetting the preposition change with articles -
Wrong: Je pense à le problème -
Correct: Je pense au problème (à + le = au) -
Using the wrong preposition -
Wrong: Qu'est-ce que tu penses sur ce film? -
Correct: Qu'est-ce que tu penses de ce film? -
Incorrect negative construction -
Wrong: Je pense ne pas -
Correct: Je ne pense pas -
Confusing "penser" with "croire" (to believe) -
Both can mean "think" but "croire" is stronger (to believe) -
Je pense qu'il viendra (I think he'll come) - less certain -
Je crois qu'il viendra (I believe he'll come) - more certain
-
Identify what type of thinking you're expressing: -
Thinking about something/someone → use "à" -
Having an opinion → use "de" -
Expressing a belief → use "que" -
Conjugate according to the subject: -
Match the ending to who is thinking -
Remember: -e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent -
Watch for contractions: -
à + le = au -
à + les = aux -
de + le = du -
de + les = des -
Position in negative sentences: -
Ne comes before the verb -
Pas comes after the verb -
Ne pense pas, not pense ne pas
Unlike English, which uses "think" for all contexts, French distinguishes between: -
Thinking about (penser à) - focus on the object of thought -
Thinking of/opinion (penser de) - expressing judgment -
Thinking that (penser que) - introducing a belief or opinion
English often omits "that" in sentences like "I think he's right," but French usually keeps "que": "Je pense qu'il a raison."
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
In French culture, the act of thinking and intellectual discourse holds a particularly elevated position. The phrase "Je pense, donc je suis" (I think, therefore I am) by René Descartes exemplifies the central role of rational thought in French philosophy and culture.
Café Philosophy: French cafés have historically been centers of intellectual debate where "penser" takes on a social dimension. The tradition of discussing ideas over coffee remains strong, and expressing well-formed thoughts is highly valued.
Educational Emphasis: The French education system places great emphasis on structured thinking through the "dissertation" (essay) format, where students must present a thesis, antithesis, and synthesis. This affects how French speakers use "penser" - they often structure their thoughts more formally than English speakers might.
Nuanced Expression: French speakers often use "penser" with more nuance than English "think." They might say: -
"Je pense que oui" (I think so) - more tentative -
"J'ai pensé à toi" (I thought of you) - showing care -
"Qu'est-ce que tu en penses?" (What do you think about it?) - seeking detailed opinion
Politeness and Thinking: Using "penser" can soften statements in French: -
"Je pense que vous avez tort" (I think you're wrong) is more polite than stating it directly -
"Pensez-vous que..." (Do you think that...) shows respect for others' opinions
Common Expressions: -
"Pensez-y!" (Think about it!) -
"Sans y penser" (Without thinking about it) -
"Donner à penser" (To give food for thought)
Understanding these cultural nuances helps English speakers use "penser" more naturally and appreciate the French approach to expressing thoughts and opinions.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
From Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's Le Petit Prince (1943):
"On ne voit bien qu'avec le cœur. L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux. Les hommes ont oublié cette vérité, dit le renard. Mais tu ne dois pas l'oublier. Tu deviens responsable pour toujours de ce que tu as apprivoisé."
On One ne not voit sees bien well qu' only avec with le the cœur heart. L' The essentiel essential est is invisible invisible pour for les the yeux eyes. Les The hommes men ont have oublié forgotten cette this vérité truth, dit says le the renard fox. Mais But tu you ne not dois must pas not l' it oublier forget.
"On ne voit bien qu'avec le cœur. L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux. Les hommes ont oublié cette vérité, dit le renard. Mais tu ne dois pas l'oublier. Tu deviens responsable pour toujours de ce que tu as apprivoisé."
"One sees clearly only with the heart. What is essential is invisible to the eyes. Men have forgotten this truth, said the fox. But you must not forget it. You become responsible forever for what you have tamed."
On ne voit bien qu'avec le cœur. L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux. Les hommes ont oublié cette vérité, dit le renard. Mais tu ne dois pas l'oublier. Tu deviens responsable pour toujours de ce que tu as apprivoisé.
This passage, though not containing "penser" directly, embodies the French conception of deep thinking and philosophical reflection. The fox's words represent a mode of thought that transcends mere rational thinking.
Key Vocabulary for English Speakers: -
"voir" (to see) - here used metaphorically for understanding -
"cœur" (heart) - representing emotional/intuitive thinking -
"essentiel" (essential) - what is most important -
"invisible" - cognate with English, same meaning -
"vérité" (truth) - feminine noun -
"oublier" (to forget) - regular -er verb like penser -
"apprivoiser" (to tame) - literally "to make private/personal"
Grammar Points: -
"On ne voit bien qu'avec" - restrictive construction (only with) -
"Tu ne dois pas" - negative with modal verb (you must not) -
"ce que" - what/that which (relative pronoun construction)
Cultural Significance: This passage illustrates how French literature often invites readers to "penser" (think) beyond the literal. Saint-Exupéry encourages a form of thinking that integrates emotion and intuition, reflecting the French appreciation for nuanced philosophical thought. The use of a fox as the speaker of wisdom also reflects the French literary tradition of using allegory to convey deep truths.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
53.16 Quand When j' I étais was enfant child, je I pensais thought que that les the nuages clouds étaient were en made of coton cotton
53.17 Ma My grand-mère grandmother pensait thought toujours always à of nous us préparer preparing nos our plats dishes préférés favorite
53.18 Je I me myself souviens remember avoir having pensé thought que that mon my père father savait knew tout everything
53.19 Nous We pensions thought passer to spend tous all nos our étés summers à at la the campagne countryside
53.20 Mon My frère brother et and moi I pensions thought devenir to become astronautes astronauts
53.21 Chaque Each soir evening, je I pensais thought aux about the histoires stories que that papa dad racontait told
53.22 Ma My mère mother pensait thought qu' that étudier studying était was la the clé key du of succès success
53.23 À At cette that époque time, je I ne not pensais thought jamais never au about the futur future
53.24 Les The dimanches Sundays, nous we pensions thought tous all à about la the tarte pie de of maman mom
53.25 Mes My parents parents pensaient thought me me protéger to protect en by me me cachant hiding la the vérité truth
53.26 Je I pensais thought souvent often à about ce what que that serait would be ma my vie life adulte adult
53.27 Grand-père Grandfather pensait thought que that les the temps times modernes modern allaient were going trop too vite fast
53.28 En In y about it repensant thinking back, je I réalise realize combien how much j' I étais was naïf naive
53.29 Nous We ne not pensions thought pas not que that ces those moments moments étaient were si so précieux precious
53.30 Aujourd'hui Today, je I pense think encore still à about ces those années years d' of innocence innocence
53.16 Quand j'étais enfant, je pensais que les nuages étaient en coton. When I was a child, I thought that clouds were made of cotton.
53.17 Ma grand-mère pensait toujours à nous préparer nos plats préférés. My grandmother always thought of preparing our favorite dishes for us.
53.18 Je me souviens avoir pensé que mon père savait tout. I remember thinking that my father knew everything.
53.19 Nous pensions passer tous nos étés à la campagne. We thought we would spend all our summers in the countryside.
53.20 Mon frère et moi pensions devenir astronautes. My brother and I thought we would become astronauts.
53.21 Chaque soir, je pensais aux histoires que papa racontait. Each evening, I thought about the stories dad told.
53.22 Ma mère pensait qu'étudier était la clé du succès. My mother thought that studying was the key to success.
53.23 À cette époque, je ne pensais jamais au futur. At that time, I never thought about the future.
53.24 Les dimanches, nous pensions tous à la tarte de maman. On Sundays, we all thought about mom's pie.
53.25 Mes parents pensaient me protéger en me cachant la vérité. My parents thought they were protecting me by hiding the truth from me.
53.26 Je pensais souvent à ce que serait ma vie adulte. I often thought about what my adult life would be like.
53.27 Grand-père pensait que les temps modernes allaient trop vite. Grandfather thought that modern times were moving too fast.
53.28 En y repensant, je réalise combien j'étais naïf. Thinking back on it, I realize how naive I was.
53.29 Nous ne pensions pas que ces moments étaient si précieux. We didn't think that those moments were so precious.
53.30 Aujourd'hui, je pense encore à ces années d'innocence. Today, I still think about those years of innocence.
53.16 Quand j'étais enfant, je pensais que les nuages étaient en coton.
53.17 Ma grand-mère pensait toujours à nous préparer nos plats préférés.
53.18 Je me souviens avoir pensé que mon père savait tout.
53.19 Nous pensions passer tous nos étés à la campagne.
53.20 Mon frère et moi pensions devenir astronautes.
53.21 Chaque soir, je pensais aux histoires que papa racontait.
53.22 Ma mère pensait qu'étudier était la clé du succès.
53.23 À cette époque, je ne pensais jamais au futur.
53.24 Les dimanches, nous pensions tous à la tarte de maman.
53.25 Mes parents pensaient me protéger en me cachant la vérité.
53.26 Je pensais souvent à ce que serait ma vie adulte.
53.27 Grand-père pensait que les temps modernes allaient trop vite.
53.28 En y repensant, je réalise combien j'étais naïf.
53.29 Nous ne pensions pas que ces moments étaient si précieux.
53.30 Aujourd'hui, je pense encore à ces années d'innocence.
When writing memoirs in French, "penser" appears frequently in past tenses:
Imparfait (Imperfect) - for habitual or ongoing past thoughts: -
je pensais (I used to think/was thinking) -
tu pensais -
il/elle pensait -
nous pensions -
vous pensiez -
ils/elles pensaient
Used for: -
Childhood beliefs: "Je pensais que..." (I used to think that...) -
Repeated thoughts: "Elle pensait toujours à..." (She always thought about...) -
Background mental states: "Nous pensions être..." (We thought we were...)
Passé Composé - for completed thoughts or realizations: -
j'ai pensé (I thought - at a specific moment) -
Uses auxiliary "avoir" + past participle "pensé"
Plus-que-parfait - for thoughts that occurred before another past event: -
j'avais pensé (I had thought) -
Used in complex narrative sequences
-
Reflexive use in memories: -
"Je me souviens avoir pensé" (I remember thinking) -
"En y repensant" (Thinking back on it) -
Nostalgic expressions: -
"Je pensais souvent à" (I often thought about) -
"Nous pensions que" (We thought that) -
Childhood perspective: -
Using imparfait to show naive or innocent thinking -
"Je pensais que les adultes..." (I thought that adults...)
-
Overusing passé composé instead of imparfait -
Wrong: J'ai pensé souvent à mon enfance -
Correct: Je pensais souvent à mon enfance -
Forgetting agreement in compound tenses -
With être verbs in memoir contexts -
"Elle s'est souvenue avoir pensé" (She remembered thinking) -
Mixing tense perspectives -
Maintain consistency between narrative past and reflective present -
"Aujourd'hui, je pense" (Today, I think) vs "Je pensais" (I used to think)
-
Use "penser" to show character development over time -
Contrast past thoughts with present understanding -
Layer different time periods using various past tenses -
Include sensory memories linked to thoughts
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
This lesson is part of a comprehensive language learning series developed by the Latinum Institute, curated by Evan der Millner BA MA (Cantab. NZ, London). Since 2006, der Millner has been creating innovative online language learning materials that make classical and modern language acquisition accessible to autodidacts worldwide.
The lessons follow the Latinum Method, which emphasizes: -
Interlinear Translation: Each word is glossed individually in Section A, allowing beginners to build vocabulary systematically -
Progressive Difficulty: Moving from word-by-word analysis to complete sentences to advanced literary texts -
Cultural Context: Understanding not just grammar but how language reflects cultural thinking -
Multiple Learning Styles: Visual learners benefit from the structured layout, while analytical learners appreciate the detailed grammar explanations
-
Self-Contained Units: Each lesson provides everything needed to master a specific language element -
No Prior Knowledge Assumed: Explanations start from basic principles -
Immediate Application: Every rule is illustrated with practical examples -
Cultural Integration: Language learning includes cultural understanding -
Literary Exposure: Authentic texts provide real-world language use
-
Find more about the Latinum Method at latinum.substack.com and latinum.org.uk -
Read reviews from satisfied learners at Trustpilot -
Access audio materials and extended courses at patreon.com/latinum for paid subscribers
The Latinum Institute continues to expand its offerings, providing materials for Latin, Ancient Greek, and modern languages using the same proven methodology that has helped thousands of independent learners achieve their language goals.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
---