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essayait de

was trying to

→ essayer
phrase Uncommon #18,377
was trying to Imperfect tense of essayer de. Used before another verb: essayer de faire quelque chose = to try to do something.
FR: Elle essayait de parler plus doucement.
EN: She was trying to speak more quietly.

Je voulais aider Tom à comprendre ce que Marie essayait de lui dire.

I wanted to help Tom understand what Mary was trying to tell him.

Il essayait de se sauver ?

Was he trying to escape?

— 28 Ans plus tard : Le Temple des morts (2026)

Elle essayait de m'envoyer des signaux.

She was trying to send me signals.

— Tár (2022)

Rogue essayait de me sauver ?

Rogue was trying to save me?

— Harry Potter à l'école des sorciers (2001)

Tom essayait de cacher son addiction.

Tom tried to hide his addiction.

Mais Neto, au moins, essayait de régler les choses.

But Neto, at least, was trying to sort things out.

— Troupe d'Élite (2007)

Tom savait que Mary essayait de le faire.

Tom knew Mary was trying to do it.

Je ne sais pas ce que Tom essayait de dire.

I don't know what Tom was trying to say.

Il essayait de ne pas la regarder.

He tried not to look at her.

Tom essayait de vendre sa vieille voiture.

Tom was trying to sell his old car.

On essayait de te protéger.

We were trying to protect you.

Il me disait qu'il essayait de se trouver.

He was telling me that he was trying to find himself.

— Chicago (2002)

Ce type essayait de te violer ?

Was this guy trying to rape you?

J'ai pas compris ce que Nishimiya essayait de me dire l'autre jour.

I didn't understand what Nishimiya was trying to tell me the other day.

— Silent Voice (2016)

J’ai cru que t’étais un vieux type louche qui essayait de me draguer.

I thought you were some shady old guy trying to hit on me.

— The Shadow's Edge (2025)

M. Zuloaga essayait de l'en dissuader.

Mr. Zuloaga was trying to dissuade him from it.

— Parle avec elle (2002)

Je fus tout à coup frappé de ce que la fille essayait de cacher quelque chose.

It suddenly struck me that the girl was trying to hide something.

Sami essayait de reconstruire sa vie.

Sami was trying to rebuild his life.

Il essayait de rattraper le train.

He was trying to catch the train.

— La Haine (1995)

Elle essayait de faire communiquer humains et singes.

She was trying to get humans and monkeys to communicate.

— Primate (2026)