pensando en o para + verb

Question

I know that I should say "pensando en" to mean "thinking of" something, but if I would like to say "thinking of quitting my job," can I say "pensando en dejar mi trabajo" or "pensando para dejar mi trabajo?" Gracias.

Answer 1

I don't know about talking informally in the street, but if you write "pensar de salir" in an exam, you'll fail immediately. You never, ever, say "pensar de". In this case it should be "pensar en salir".

Now, why "¿Qué piensas de...?"? Easy:

Pienso que Juan es muy vago.

Lo que pienso de Juan es que es muy vago.

¿Qué piensas de Juan?

The question is basically inquiring about the noun phrase modifying the D.O., which is "lo que pienso de Juan". The preposition "de" is the typical modifier for most nouns (and noun phrases), which is why "de" is used with "pensar". That doesn't mean that you can modify the preposition of the verb "pensar" because they are distant cousins.

Now let's quote all the Academies of Spanish (including the RAE):

Es siempre transitivo cuando significa ‘opinar o creer [algo]

Transitive verbs do not take a preposition other than "a"

Es intransitivo y se construye con un complemento con en cuando significa ‘evocar o recordar’

There is no mention about "de" in the RAE or in any other source I've checked. The reason why you see "de" in some constructions is because they are relative constructions with "de" where you think something (D.O.) of/about someone, and that's where your "de" comes from.

Que piensas de el? Pienso que es un asco. Pensar de. Pero si que pensar EN es lo normal. - jeezzle, Aug 10, 2011

I've updated my answer because I knew people would ask that. The answer is still NO, and I can argue as long as you want. - lazarus1907, Aug 10, 2011

Good information. Thanks Laz, always good to see to post these kinds of answers. - jeezzle, Aug 10, 2011

Thanks, jeezzle. - lazarus1907, Aug 10, 2011

Answer 2

Just so you know...to say pensando para dejar mi trabajo means that you are thinking in order to quit your job.

Good to know. - ariyah, Aug 10, 2011

"Para"???? Sorry, but no way. - lazarus1907, Aug 10, 2011

Answer 3

It's a good question. Estoy pensando renunciar and Pienso renunciar a mi trabajo. I think these both mean "I intend to" so it does seem like "Estoy pensando en renunciar a mi trabajo" should work for thinking about quitting, still better to wait for a native.

That actually is used to give opinions, but colloquially it works fine. Ideally, "Estoy pensando en..." would be better academically. - lazarus1907, Aug 10, 2011

Answer 4

This one you should be ok saying "Estoy pensando salir de/dejar/renunciar mi trabajo"

I disagree. I have always heard pensar en to think about / and pensar de (which is rarely used) to have an opinion OF someone etc.... also I believe you need that a before renunciar. - jeezzle, Aug 10, 2011

Estoy pensando en dejar mi trabajo / Estoy pensando en renunciar a mi trabajo. - jeezzle, Aug 10, 2011

Pensando de??????? One of us is really wrong here. - lazarus1907, Aug 10, 2011

It makes sense to say "pensar de" to have an opinion OF something - I'll check that out. - ariyah, Aug 10, 2011

Check as much as you want, but it is wrong! - lazarus1907, Aug 10, 2011

Opinion of someone, using your "¿Qué piensas de Juan?" I don't think she is talking about modifying the prep but simply meaning about / of as i have used it above...... OF someone. (as in DE / SOBRE) - jeezzle, Aug 10, 2011