Past simple or past perfect continuous

Question

I thought/had been thinking about buying a DNA test kit from you for years and finally decided to do it today, but to my disappointment, your website said you didn't ship to my country. Do you plan on ever adding new countries to the list or is this list final? Thank you.Which one is correct? I decided to go with "thought" because I'm just talking about a certain order these actions happened in: "I thought, I decided, your website said."But on second thought, "had been thinking" doesn't sound wrong either but I just don't see why I would use it instead. Can someone explain?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Firstly, don't depend on my answer. Wait for the teachers' correction.

Based on your context, I would use "have been thinking". I'm not sure whether you could use" had been thinking". But I know I wouldn't choose "thought" at all. It doesn't fit your terms in my view. If I you wanted to choose "thought", then you need to change some of your terms.

NecrophagistI thought/had been thinking about buying a DNA test kit from you for years and finally decided to do it today,

I understand that your thinking doesn't all come at once. It was started at some point in the past then continued until the present. Then you said: " and finally decided". Such context fits present perfect continues.

Your paragraph may need some modifying, by the way. It's better to take it from the teachers.

CalifJim · Answer

You had been thinking about it before you decided to do it.

That's something in the past before something else in the past, so the past perfect is the right choice. You might even say it's the perfect choice.

CJ

Past simple or past perfect continuous

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