were looking for, were searching for, were trying to
Que cherchiez-vous à prouver ?
What were you trying to prove?
— Guerre et Paix (1968)
Et vous le cherchiez à la morgue ?
And were you looking for him at the morgue?
— Les Diaboliques (1955)
Qui cherchiez-vous ?
Who were you looking for?
Que cherchiez-vous ?
What were you looking for?