The two formulations “what do you think” and “what do you think about it” coexist in the French language, but they do not belong to the same register. Their difference lies in the grammatical construction of the interrogative sentence and the context in which they are used. Understanding what separates them allows for the correct choice of phrasing according to the situation, both orally and in writing.
The role of the pronoun “en” in the construction with the verb penser
The verb “penser” changes meaning depending on the preposition that follows it. Penser de means to have an opinion about something. Penser à means to direct one’s thoughts towards something or someone. This distinction is the starting point for understanding why certain formulations are incorrect.
When asking someone’s opinion on a specific subject, “penser de” is used. The pronoun “en” then replaces the complement introduced by “de.” Saying “what do you think of it?” is equivalent to saying “what do you think about this?”.
The phrase “what do you think?” without the pronoun “en” is grammatically incomplete. The verb “penser” loses its prepositional complement, making the question vague. In spoken language, the context often compensates for this absence, but in writing, the pronoun “en” remains grammatically necessary. To delve deeper into the spelling of what you think about it, the distinction between these constructions deserves to be well understood before moving on to language registers.
Three interrogative forms in French: familiar, standard, and formal registers
French grammar offers three ways to ask a question, each associated with a language register. The choice between “what do you think of it,” “what do you think about it,” and “what do you think?” depends on the communication context, not an absolute correctness rule.
Intonation questioning (familiar register)
The sentence retains the subject-verb-complement order, and only the rising intonation indicates the question. This is the case with “what do you think of it?”. This form predominates in daily conversation, instant messaging, and informal exchanges.
Questioning with “est-ce que” (standard register)
“What do you think about it?” uses the interrogative phrase “est-ce que,” which explicitly signals the question without changing the word order. This form is considered neutral by educators and linguistic reference organizations. It is suitable for both oral and professional written communication.
Subject-verb inversion (formal register)
“What do you think?” places the verb before the subject, with a hyphen. This construction belongs to the formal register and is found in formal correspondence, essays, or literary texts.
Here is a summary of the three registers applied to this question:
- Familiar: “What do you think of it?” – conversation among friends, SMS, social media
- Standard: “What do you think about it?” – professional email, meeting, newspaper article
- Formal: “What do you think?” – official letter, essay, speech
Common writing errors with “penser” and interrogative pronouns
Several confusions regularly arise, even among native French speakers. They concern the choice of pronoun, the construction of the sentence, and the use of “ce que” or “qu’est-ce que.”
Confusing “penser à” and “penser de” changes the meaning of the question. “What are you thinking about?” asks what someone is reflecting on. “What do you think of it?” asks for their opinion. In the first case, the replacement pronoun is “y” (“are you thinking about it?”), in the second, it is “en.”
Another common mistake concerns the transition to indirect speech. At the beginning of a sentence, “qu’est-ce que” is written to ask a direct question. After a verb like “demander” or “savoir,” “ce que” is used without the “est-ce que” structure.
- Direct question: “What do you think about it?”
- Indirect speech: “I would like to know what you think about it.”
- Incorrect form: “I would like to know what do you think about it.”
Writing “qu’est-ce que” after an introductory verb is a common mistake in writing, often imported from speech where the boundary between the two constructions blurs.
Register and context: the true criterion for choosing between formulations
French as a foreign language educators increasingly emphasize that the choice between these formulations does not fall under a binary correct/incorrect opposition. The main criterion is appropriateness to the context: a friendly conversation, a professional email, or an exam paper do not call for the same form.
“What do you think of it?” is perfectly suited for a relaxed oral exchange. No one will criticize this phrasing in a discussion among colleagues during a coffee break. In contrast, in a written report or a university thesis, this same phrase would seem too casual.
“What do you think about it?” works in most situations. It is the all-purpose form, one that surprises no one and is suitable for both oral exchanges and emails. “What do you think?” remains reserved for contexts where a formal register is expected.
Grammar does not change according to the register: the pronoun “en” remains mandatory in all cases, and the construction of the verb “penser de” does not vary. What changes is the word order and the presence or absence of subject-verb inversion.
The choice between these three forms therefore depends on the recipient and the communication channel. A text message to a friend, an email to a client, and an administrative letter each require a different formulation, but all three respect the same grammatical logic: the verb “penser de” calls for the pronoun “en,” and the interrogative structure adapts to the expected level of formality.