When learning a new language, one of the most intriguing aspects is discovering how seemingly similar words can have entirely different meanings. In Portuguese, two such words are “pensar” and “pesar”. For English speakers, these words translate to “think” and “weigh,” respectively. Despite their similar appearance and phonetics, they serve distinct purposes in the Portuguese language. This article will delve into the differences, uses, and nuances of “pensar” and “pesar,” helping you to master these essential verbs.
Pensar: To Think
“Pesar” and “pensar” might look similar, but “pensar” is the verb you’ll use when you want to talk about mental activities such as thinking, considering, and reflecting. Let’s explore its various uses and contexts.
Conjugation of Pensar
Before diving into its usage, it’s crucial to understand how “pensar” is conjugated across different tenses. Here are some examples:
– Present: eu penso, tu pensas, ele/ela/você pensa, nós pensamos, vós pensais, eles/elas/vocês pensam
– Preterite: eu pensei, tu pensaste, ele/ela/você pensou, nós pensamos, vós pensastes, eles/elas/vocês pensaram
– Imperfect: eu pensava, tu pensavas, ele/ela/você pensava, nós pensávamos, vós pensáveis, eles/elas/vocês pensavam
Common Uses of Pensar
1. **To Formulate Ideas**:
– Eu penso que a reunião foi produtiva. (I think the meeting was productive.)
2. **To Consider or Reflect**:
– Ele está pensando em mudar de emprego. (He is considering changing jobs.)
3. **To Plan or Intend**:
– Nós pensamos viajar no próximo verão. (We plan to travel next summer.)
4. **To Have an Opinion**:
– O que você pensa sobre isso? (What do you think about this?)
5. **To Contemplate**:
– Ela pensa muito antes de tomar decisões. (She contemplates a lot before making decisions.)
Idiomatic Expressions with Pensar
– **Pensar alto**: To think out loud.
– Ele costuma pensar alto quando está sozinho. (He often thinks out loud when he’s alone.)
– **Pensar duas vezes**: To think twice.
– É melhor pensar duas vezes antes de agir. (It’s better to think twice before acting.)
– **Pensar bem**: To think carefully.
– Você deve pensar bem antes de fazer uma escolha. (You should think carefully before making a choice.)
Pesar: To Weigh
On the other hand, “pesar” is a verb that you’ll use when dealing with physical weight or metaphorically weighing options and consequences. Let’s break down its conjugation and uses.
Conjugation of Pesar
Like “pensar,” “pesar” also has its unique conjugations. Here are some examples:
– Present: eu peso, tu pesas, ele/ela/você pesa, nós pesamos, vós pesais, eles/elas/vocês pesam
– Preterite: eu pesei, tu pesaste, ele/ela/você pesou, nós pesamos, vós pesastes, eles/elas/vocês pesaram
– Imperfect: eu pesava, tu pesavas, ele/ela/você pesava, nós pesávamos, vós pesáveis, eles/elas/vocês pesavam
Common Uses of Pesar
1. **To Measure Weight**:
– Ele pesou a bagagem antes de viajar. (He weighed the luggage before traveling.)
2. **To Consider Consequences**:
– É importante pesar os prós e os contras. (It’s important to weigh the pros and cons.)
3. **To Burden or Weigh Down**:
– A responsabilidade pesa sobre ele. (The responsibility weighs on him.)
4. **To Have Importance**:
– Sua opinião pesa muito nessa decisão. (Your opinion weighs heavily in this decision.)
Idiomatic Expressions with Pesar
– **Pesar na consciência**: To weigh on one’s conscience.
– A mentira pesou na consciência dele. (The lie weighed on his conscience.)
– **Pesar a mão**: To be strict or severe.
– O professor pesou a mão na correção das provas. (The teacher was strict in grading the exams.)
– **Pesar os prós e os contras**: To weigh the pros and cons.
– Eles pesaram os prós e os contras antes de decidir. (They weighed the pros and cons before deciding.)
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Learning any new language inevitably comes with its share of mistakes. Here are some common pitfalls when using “pensar” and “pesar” and tips on how to avoid them.
1. **Mixing Up the Verbs**:
– Incorrect: Ele está pensando a bagagem. (He is thinking the luggage.)
– Correct: Ele está pesando a bagagem. (He is weighing the luggage.)
2. **Using the Wrong Context**:
– Incorrect: Eu peso que ele está certo. (I weigh that he is right.)
– Correct: Eu penso que ele está certo. (I think that he is right.)
3. **Incorrect Conjugation**:
– Incorrect: Nós pensamos a bagagem. (We think the luggage.)
– Correct: Nós pesamos a bagagem. (We weigh the luggage.)
Exercises for Practice
To solidify your understanding of “pensar” and “pesar,” try these exercises:
1. **Fill in the Blanks**:
– Eu __________ que ela está certa. (penso/peso)
– Eles __________ a fruta na balança. (pensam/pesam)
– Ela __________ antes de tomar decisões. (pensa/pesa)
2. **Translate the Sentences**:
– He is weighing the options.
– She thinks about her family a lot.
– The responsibility weighs on his shoulders.
3. **Choose the Correct Verb**:
– Nós ___________ viajar no próximo ano. (pensamos/pesamos)
– Você deve ___________ as consequências. (pensar/pesar)
– A balança ___________ o peso corretamente. (pensa/pesa)
Conclusion
Mastering the nuances between “pensar” and “pesar” is a significant step in enhancing your Portuguese language skills. Remember, “pensar” is all about mental activities like thinking, considering, and planning, while “pesar” deals with measuring weight, considering consequences, and burdening. By understanding their conjugations, common uses, idiomatic expressions, and practicing through exercises, you can avoid common mistakes and use these verbs confidently. With time and practice, you’ll find that distinguishing between “pensar” and “pesar” becomes second nature. Happy learning!
