Share Intentions with Pensar and an Infinitive
Pensar plus an infinitive presents an intention without the immediacy of ir a. Use it for personal goals, travel ideas, and choices still taking shape.
Learning objective
Express intentions with pensar plus an infinitive and distinguish them from settled near-future plans.
An intention is something a person means or hopes to do, even if every practical detail is not settled. Spanish can express it with pensar followed directly by an infinitive: Pienso estudiar medicina means I intend to study medicine. Here pensar does not mean to believe an opinion.
Pensar has an E-to-IE change in most present forms: pienso, piensas, piensa, pensamos, pensáis, and piensan. Nosotros and the vosotros form used mainly in Spain keep the original E. The following action stays unchanged: use pensamos viajar, not the incorrect pensamos viajamos.
Compare intention with a near-future plan. Pienso visitar Perú el año que viene presents a developing aim; Voy a viajar a Lima el 12 de marzo sounds more settled because it includes a concrete destination and date. Context can shift the strength, so this is a practical contrast rather than an absolute rule.
Add a reason or goal to make the intention meaningful. Pienso hacer un curso porque quiero cambiar de trabajo explains why the idea matters. If the idea is uncertain, todavía or quizá can qualify it. Pienso quedarme, pero aún no es seguro states that relationship more clearly than piling several uncertainty words together.
Questions about intentions use the same pattern: ¿Piensas buscar otro piso? The informal tú form is piensas; respectful usted uses piensa. Ask with genuine interest and avoid treating another person’s goal as a promise. An intention can be sincere even when dates, money, or permission remain unresolved.
Examples
Pienso aprender a conducir este año.
I’m planning to learn to drive this year.
The phrase presents a personal intention without a fixed date.
¿Piensas quedarte mucho tiempo en la ciudad?
Are you thinking of staying in the city for long?
The contextual translation keeps the developing nature of the plan.
Pensamos ahorrar porque queremos hacer un viaje.
We intend to save because we want to take a trip.
The reason connects the intention to a larger goal.
Marta piensa cambiar de trabajo, pero aún no tiene fecha.
Marta intends to change jobs, but she doesn’t have a date yet.
The contrast makes clear that the intention is not settled.
Common mistake
- Instead of
- Pienso a estudiar español el próximo año.
- Try
- Pienso estudiar español el próximo año.
Pensar meaning to intend is followed directly by an infinitive, without a. The extra preposition is often transferred from ir a, which is a different future structure. Keeping the complete chunks pienso estudiar and voy a estudiar helps preserve the contrast.
Practice
Try it yourself
Produce two sentences about the same trip: first express a general intention to visit Colombia next year; then give a settled near-future plan to fly to Bogotá on 4 January. Use pensar and ir a accurately.