I didn't think it was possible until I saw it for the first time

[Glizdka]

Here's a tough one for me. On the one hand, I was taught a preceding action should be put in the past perfect. On the other, I can smell the underlying perfect in the first-timeness of an action. Which, if any, is correct?

A) I didn't think it was possible until I saw it for the first time.
B) I hadn't thought it was possible until I saw it for the first time.
C) I didn't think it was possible until I had seen it for the first time.
D) I hadn't thought it was possible until I had seen it for the first time.

The rules I was taught tell me B is correct.
My nose tells me it should be C.
D looks ridiculously overloaded with perfects, but it sort of makes sense.

I'd go with A, to make it simple (past simple to be precise).

 

[Tarheel]

A is most likely. In fact, you can expect to see it more than twice as often as all the rest put together. I think B is also possible.

Generally speaking, simpler is better.

 

[GoesStation]

A is most likely. In fact, you can expect to see it more than twice as often as all the rest put together. I think B is also possible.

Generally speaking, simpler is better.

D looks natural to me, too, except that it's missing a contraction.

 

[Tarheel]

D looks natural to me, too, except that it's missing a contraction.

I give up. What's the missing contraction?

 

[emsr2d2]

I give up. What's the missing contraction?

I assume GS would have preferred "... until I'd seen it for the first time".

 

[jutfrank]

I like A and B. A is good because it's simplest and B is good because it uses the past perfect very appropriately, if that's the effect you desire.

C is wrong. It's hard to imagine how D could be justified.