ils jouaient

Tom et Mary jouaient au tennis ce matin.

Tom and Mary were playing tennis this morning.

Il y avait des garçons qui jouaient près de la rivière.

There were boys playing near the river.

J'entendais le bruit d'enfants qui jouaient sous ma fenêtre.

I could hear the sound of children playing beneath my window.

Ils jouaient aux cartes toute la nuit, personne appelait les flics.

They played cards all night, nobody called the cops.

— Les Affranchis (1990)

Les enfants jouaient tranquillement ensemble.

The children were playing quietly together.

Tom et Mary jouaient à la balançoire.

Tom and Mary were playing on the swing.

Sami et Layla jouaient aux dames.

Sami and Layla were playing checkers.

Les femmes jouaient aux cartes.

The women were playing cards.

— Les Affranchis (1990)

L'hiver, ils jouaient au hockey.

In the winter, they played hockey.

— Une fiancée pas comme les autres (2007)

Ils jouaient avec une arme.

They were playing with a gun.

— Mystic River (2003)