Need help with Past Perfect Continuous Please, which one of these sentences are correct if I want to emphasize the continuation? 1) I had been writing an essay before I went to sleep. 2) I was writing an essay before I went to sleep. 3) I wrote an essay before I went to sleep. Thanks. Look forward to your answers.Please, one more thing, would it be OK to say 'I had been writing an essay for 30 minutes before I went to sleep.' I mean, before sounds natural here or not? Thanks in advance.