ils furent

were

f y ʁ → être
verb · third plural · past indicative Common #8,312
were Past historic (passé simple), 3rd person plural of « être »; mainly used in writing and formal storytelling.
FR: Ils furent surpris par la nouvelle.
EN: They were surprised by the news.
Conjugation of être
Indicative past
SingularPlural
First fus
Second fus
Third fut furent

Mes parents furent fiers de moi.

My parents were proud of me.

Les victimes furent inévitables.

Casualties were inevitable.

Les États-Unis furent une erreur.

The United States was a mistake.

Le printemps et l'été furent des mois heureux.

Spring and summer were happy months.

Les jours suivants, Azad, Bhagat Singh et les autres furent absents.

Over the following days, Azad, Bhagat Singh, and the others were absent.

— Rang de Basanti (2006)

Les pertes des deux côtés furent extrêmement élevées.

The losses on both sides were extremely high.

Les chambres d'hôtel ne furent plus une option.

Hotel rooms were no longer an option.

Presque un tiers des victimes de la fusillade furent des adolescents.

Nearly a third of the shooting victims were teenagers.

Ce furent ses fleurs préférées.

These were his favorite flowers.

Tom et Mary furent surpris de voir John et Alice.

Tom and Mary were surprised to see John and Alice.

Ils furent incapables de découvrir le moindre secret.

They were unable to uncover the slightest secret.

Les résultats de l'examen d'anglais furent très bons cette fois.

The results of the English exam were very good this time.

Ce furent les plus beaux jours de ma vie.

Those were the best days of my life.

— Black (2005)

Ses parents furent contents de son succès.

His parents were pleased with his success.

Tous les efforts du docteur furent vains et l'homme mourut rapidement.

All the doctor's efforts were in vain, and the man quickly died.

Ces ruines furent autrefois un somptueux palais.

These ruins were once a sumptuous palace.

Tous leurs efforts furent vains.

All their efforts were in vain.

Quelles furent ses dernières paroles?

What were his last words?

Pas moins de trois cents dollars furent nécessaires pour ce travail.

No less than three hundred dollars were needed for this work.

Celles-ci furent les meilleures années de ma vie.

These were the best years of my life.

Les nouvelles de la mort de son fils furent un choc.

The news of his son's death came as a shock.

D'autres héros le furent à leur tour.

Other heroes were in turn.

Ce furent ses paroles exactes.

These were his exact words.

Ses critiques furent très sévères.

His criticisms were very severe.

Ils furent incapables de l'aider.

They were unable to help him.

C'est peut-être pour ça qu'ils furent un peuple aussi agité.

Perhaps that's why they were such a restless people.

— Il était Temps (2013)

Ce furent les plus belles années de ma vie.

Those were the best years of my life.

Ses parents furent heureux qu'il ait réussi son examen.

His parents were happy that he had passed his exam.

Buttercup et Humperdinck furent mariés.

Buttercup and Humperdinck were married.

— Princess Bride (1987)

Les quelques premières années furent difficiles.

The first few years were difficult.

Mes notes scolaires furent moyennes.

My school grades were average.

Elles furent responsables de l'accident.

They were responsible for the accident.

Elles ne furent pas contentes.

They were not happy.

Ils furent très gentils avec moi.

They were very kind to me.

Quelles furent ses premières paroles?

What were his first words?

Ils furent responsables de l'accident.

They were responsible for the accident.

Ses paroles furent les suivantes.

His words were as follows.

De nombreuses personnes furent en retard au concert.

Many people were late to the concert.

Ils ne furent pas contents.

They were not happy.

Ils furent incapables de transmettre cette tradition à la génération suivante.

They were unable to pass this tradition on to the next generation.

Sombres furent mes rêves dernièrement.

My dreams have been dark lately.

— Le Seigneur des anneaux : Les Deux Tours (2002)

Ce furent ses derniers mots.

These were his last words.

Ils furent victorieux.

They were victorious.

Les personnes présentes furent déçues par le rapport.

Those present were disappointed by the report.

Comment furent tes dix années?

How were your ten years?

— Le Vent se lève (2013)

Ce furent les dernières paroles de votre père.

These were your father's last words.

auxiliary · third plural · past indicative Uncommon #9,673
were Past historic (passé simple), 3rd person plural of « être »; common in written narratives.
FR: Ils furent surpris par la nouvelle.
EN: They were surprised by the news.
Conjugation of être
Indicative past
SingularPlural
Third fut furent

ceux-ci furent-ils construits?

Where were these built?

furent-ils envoyés?

Where were they sent?

Les deux furent utilisés pour le gars du milieu.

Both were used for the middle guy.

Les chevaux furent mis à l'épreuve.

The horses were put to the test.

— Nosferatu (1922)

Elles furent surprises par ce qu'elles virent.

They were surprised by what they saw.

Les hérétiques furent brûlées vives.

The heretics were burned alive.

Ces textes furent écrits en hébreu, pas en araméen.

These texts were written in Hebrew, not Aramaic.

Beaucoup d'hommes furent tués dans cette guerre.

Many men were killed in that war.

Une trentaine de personnes furent blessées.

About thirty people were injured.

Les éléphants furent tués pour leur ivoire.

Elephants were killed for their ivory.

Elles furent prises au dépourvu.

They were taken by surprise.

Les Voyages de Gulliver furent écrits par un célèbre écrivain anglais.

Gulliver’s Travels was written by a famous English writer.

Nombre furent massacrés.

Many were massacred.

Trois furent donnés aux Elfes, êtres immortels, des plus sages et loyaux.

Three were given to the Elves, immortal beings, the wisest and most loyal.

— Le Seigneur des anneaux : La Communauté de l'anneau (2001)

De nombreux vols furent annulés en raison du typhon.

Many flights were canceled due to the typhoon.

De nombreux appareils étasuniens furent abattus.

Many US aircraft were shot down.

Des centaines de personnes furent arrêtées ici.

Hundreds of people were arrested here.

Nombre de navires de guerre étasuniens furent envoyés à Panama.

A number of US warships were sent to Panama.

Les hérétiques furent brûlés vifs.

The heretics were burned alive.

De nombreux avions étasuniens furent abattus.

Many US planes were shot down.

Les espoirs de Tom furent anéantis.

Tom's hopes were dashed.

Les trois furent arrêtés.

The three were arrested.

Quelques vols furent retardés à cause d'un accident mineur.

Several flights were delayed due to a minor accident.

Tous les pommiers furent abattus.

All the apple trees were cut down.

Les gens furent évacués en raison de la crue.

People were evacuated due to the flood.

Les morts furent jetés à la mer.

The dead were thrown into the sea.

Les prisonniers furent libérés.

The prisoners were released.

De nombreux livres furent volés.

Many books were stolen.

Beaucoup de passagers furent blessés dans l'accident.

Many passengers were injured in the accident.

Six furent invités, en comptant le garçon.

Six were invited, including the boy.

Emily et son mari furent tués dans un accident de voiture.

Emily and her husband were killed in a car accident.

— Souvenirs de Marnie (2014)

Elles furent surprises de ce qu'elles virent.

They were surprised by what they saw.

Des mesures furent prises.

Measures were taken.

Et certaines choses Qui n'auraient pas dû être oubliées furent perdues.

And certain things that should not have been forgotten were lost.

— Le Seigneur des anneaux : La Communauté de l'anneau (2001)

Les médecins furent appelés à la Maison-Blanche.

Doctors were called to the White House.

De nombreux bâtiments furent réduits en cendres.

Many buildings were reduced to ashes.

Trois furent blessés.

Three were injured.

Seuls quelques élus furent choisis pour rester.

Only a select few were chosen to stay.

— Avatar (2009)

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