They searched for a house for six months before they found the one they liked

[Urus]

Please explain to me the difference between these sentences:

"They searched for a house for six months before they found the one they liked."
"They had been looking for a house for six months before they found one they liked."

 

[emsr2d2]

The first sentence uses the past simple form of "search" and uses "the one".
The second sentence uses the past perfect continuous form of "look" and uses "one".

Those are the only two differences.

Are you sure you asked the right question? I wonder if you're actually wondering if there's a difference in meaning between them.

 

[Urus]

you're actually wondering if there's a difference in meaning between them.

Yes, it is.

 

[5jj]

The first presents the fact of the six-month search.
The second places more emphasis on the ongoing duration of the search

 

[teechar]

Yes, [STRIKE]it is.[/STRIKE] I am.

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