GENERAL INFO

Pensais is the imperfect tense of the verb penser (to think). It means “I was thinking” or “you were thinking.”

USAGE

It describes ongoing thoughts, past habits, or mental states in the past.

"Je pensais à toi." (I was thinking about you)

"Tu pensais que c’était vrai." (You thought it was true)

"Je pensais souvent à ce problème." (I used to think about this problem)

TRAPS

Do not confuse it with:

pensé → past participle (J’ai pensé = I thought)

pense → present tense (je pense = I think)

Be careful with constructions: penser à (to think about) vs penser que (to think that) vs penser de (to think of/about an opinion)

Also, remember the imperfect expresses background or ongoing past, not a completed action.