I have been thinking vs I was thinking

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'I have been thinking' is used to indicate that the thinking started in the past and is still ongoing, while 'I was thinking' is used to indicate that the thinking occurred in the past but may not be ongoing. They are not directly comparable as they convey different meanings.

Last updated: April 10, 2024 • 454 views

I have been thinking

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate ongoing thinking that started in the past.

This phrase is used to express that you have been considering something for a period of time, and the thinking process is still continuing. It implies a connection between the past and the present.

Examples:

I have been thinking about what you said yesterday.
She has been thinking of ways to improve the situation.
We have been thinking about going on a trip together.

Show examples from the web [+]

Feb 26, 2018 ... "I have been thinking about you" is past tense, and implies that you're not thinking about the person any more. "I am thinking about you" is ...
Why do some people say "I was thinking and some, on the other hand, say I have been thinking. Since an English is not my native laungage, ...
Oct 6, 2015 ... "I have been thinking about you alot since last weekend. A whole lot.": A retrospective on Tom Crean's mediocre sext game ... Tom Crean is a ...
How I have been thinking about climate change lately. By: Greg Dalton; October 10, 2021; Categories: Climate Stories; Tags: Storytelling Collection.
Oct 5, 2013 ... So for my fires, I have been thinking about three strategic issues for engineering. They are (1) the importance of talent in the engineering ...

Alternatives:

I have been pondering
I have been contemplating
I have been mulling over
I have been reflecting on
I have been deliberating

I was thinking

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate thinking that occurred in the past.

This phrase is used to express that you had a thought or idea in the past, without specifying whether the thinking is still ongoing. It refers to a specific moment of thinking in the past.

Examples:

I was thinking about what you said yesterday.
She was thinking of ways to improve the situation.
We were thinking about going on a trip together.

Show examples from the web [+]

I was thinking: God has abandoned me,. So, what of it—he is a priceless ray of light,. Or a thin needle in the haystack of man. And cruel.
Jun 9, 2016 ... I thought I left 6 eggs in the fridge, but now I see there are only 4." If you say "I was thinking," it normally means you were considering ...
Nov 5, 2016 ... Two examples: She isn't as friendly as I thought. She isn't as friendly as I was thinking. I think both of these examples are gramatically ...
'I was thinking too much': experiences of HIV-positive adults with common mental disorders and poor adherence to antiretroviral therapy in Zimbabwe · Authors.
Jun 4, 2016 ... Synonym for I was thinking... "I was thinking" could also imply that you still think that idea is correct and "I thought" implies that you ...
B: I was thinking we could put some flowers on the teacher's desk. - I think we can use either past progressive or present progressive would be ...

Alternatives:

I thought
I was considering
I was pondering
I was reflecting on
I was contemplating

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