Difference between った and ってた


Can someone explain to me the difference between the following forms?

  * 思った
  * 思ってた
  * 思っていた




In English, you might be able to think of those forms like this:

`思った` ー _(I)_ thought

`思ってた` and `思っていた` ー _(I)_ was thinking, _(I)_ had thought, or _(I)_ had been
thinking.

Do note that 思ってた and 思っていた are the same... but 思っていた is more of a form you
would want to use in formal writing. In conversational writing, however, you
are often free to use either form (depending on the audience to whom the
writing is being addressed.)




In English, you might be able to think of those forms like this:

`思った` ー _(I)_ thought

`思ってた` and `思っていた` ー _(I)_ was thinking, _(I)_ had thought, or _(I)_ had been
thinking.

Do note that 思ってた and 思っていた are the same... but 思っていた is more of a form you
would want to use in formal writing. In conversational writing, however, you
are often free to use either form (depending on the audience to whom the
writing is being addressed.)

