was going up, was getting on, was climbing
Il montait sur les tables et tenait des discours enragés.
He would climb onto the tables and deliver furious speeches.
— Le Conformiste (1971)
Il est devenu de plus en plus humble alors qu'il montait l'échelle sociale.
He became more and more humble as he climbed the social ladder.
De la fumée montait de la cheminée.
Smoke was rising from the chimney.
On montait les décorations de Noël.
We were putting up the Christmas decorations.