j'en avais

I had some of it

→ je

phrase Uncommon #11,213

I had some of it Used to talk about having some quantity of something already mentioned. Can also mean simply 'I had one' or 'I had them'.

FR: J'en avais besoin.

EN: I needed it.

J'en avais vraiment envie.

I really wanted it.

— Do the Right Thing (1989)

Ai-je dit que j'en avais fini ?

Did I say I was finished?

J'en avais assez.

I had had enough.

— Control (2007)

J'en avais le cœur serré.

It broke my heart.

— Mother (2009)

J'en avais un.

I had one.

Parce que j'en avais envie.

Because I wanted to.

J'en avais plein, chez moi.

I had loads of them at home.

— Femmes au bord de la crise de nerfs (1988)

Si j'en avais, vous me donneriez l'adresse ?

If I had any, would you give me the address?

— The Machinist (2004)

J'en avais marre.

I was fed up.

— Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Je ne serais pas ici si j'en avais une.

I wouldn’t be here if I had one.

— The Garden of Sinners, film 5 : Spirale contradictoire (2008)

Si j'en avais les moyens, j'achèterais une voiture électrique.

If I could afford it, I would buy an electric car.

J'en avais aucune idée.

I had no idea.

— L'Ultime Héritier (2026)

J'en avais marre de brosser les gens dans le sens du poil.

I was fed up with always trying to please people.

— La Vie d'Adèle - Chapitres 1 et 2 (2013)

J'en avais une.

I had one.

— Night Watch (2004)

J'en avais assez de jouer la comédie !

I was fed up with pretending!

— Rashōmon (1950)

J'en avais pour une heure.

It was going to take me an hour.

— Les Affranchis (1990)

Ah si j'en avais une comme ça.

Oh, if only I had one like that.

— La Famille Tenenbaum (2001)

J'en avais pas besoin.

I didn't need it.

— The Garden of Sinners, film 5 : Spirale contradictoire (2008)

J'en avais.

I had some.

— Presque Célèbre (2000)

Je veux dire, j'en avais un.

I mean, I had one.

— Projet Dernière Chance (2026)

J'en avais besoin.

I needed it.

J'en avais marre de faire mes devoirs.

I was fed up with doing my homework.

J'en avais vraiment besoin.

I really needed it.

Je ne mange pas autant de viande que j'en avais l'habitude.

I don't eat as much meat as I used to.

J'en avais assez des noix de coco.

I was tired of coconuts.

J'en avais l'intention.

I meant to.

J'aurais du le tuer quand j'en avais l'occasion.

I should have killed him when I had the chance.

— L'Échine du diable (2001)

J'en avais un, mais il a été volé.

I had one, but it was stolen.

Parce que j'en avais besoin.

Because I needed it.

J'en avais pas envie.

I didn't want to.

À Busan, c'était parce que j'en avais assez de tout.

In Busan, it was because I’d had enough of everything.

— Thirst, ceci est mon sang (2009)

Si j'en avais, je voudrais les choisir.

If I had any, I would choose them.

— Assurance sur la mort (1944)

J'en avais envie.

I wanted to.

— Portrait de la jeune fille en feu (2019)

J'en avais marre de voir que vos têtes.

I was fed up with seeing nothing but your faces.

— On ne vit qu'une seule fois (2011)

Il en fallait pour l'approcher, et j'en avais.

It took some nerve to approach him, and I had it.

— Mystic River (2003)