ils passaient

were passing by, were showing, were spending, were happening, were putting through

p a . s ɛ → passer
pass to pass, to skip + aient ils/elles imperfect
verb · 3rd-person plural, imperfect tense Rare #31,886
were passing by
FR: Des voitures passaient devant la maison.
EN: Cars were passing by the house.
were showing
FR: Ils passaient un vieux film à la télévision.
EN: They were showing an old film on television.
were spending
FR: Ils passaient beaucoup de temps ensemble.
EN: They were spending a lot of time together.
were happening
FR: Des choses étranges se passaient dans cette maison.
EN: Strange things were happening in that house.
were putting through
FR: Ils passaient les appels au directeur.
EN: They were putting the calls through to the manager.
Conjugation of passer
Indicative imperfect
SingularPlural
First passais —
Second passais passiez
Third passait passaient

Des nuages noirs passaient au-dessus de la ville.

Dark clouds were passing over the city.

Et chaque dimanche, ils passaient un film.

And every Sunday, they would show a movie.

— On ne vit qu'une seule fois (2011)

Les circuits du cheval ne passaient pas en Argentine.

Horse racing circuits did not pass through Argentina.

— Douleur et gloire (2019)

Et je suppose que John Doe et Karl Gibbs passaient beaucoup de temps ensemble ?

And I'm assuming John Doe and Karl Gibbs spent a lot of time together?

— Scream 7 (2026)

Pendant que les propriétaires passaient dans la chambre à gaz.

While the owners were being sent to the gas chamber.

— Les Faussaires (2007)

Il y avait des choses étranges qui se passaient là-bas.

There were strange things happening there.

Ils le passaient encore et encore, au ralenti.

They played it over and over again, in slow motion.

— It's Such a Beautiful Day (2012)

Elle se jetait dans les bras de tous les hommes qui passaient.

She threw herself into the arms of every man who passed by.

— मुन्ना भाई एम बी बी एस (2003)

Ils passaient tout le temps leur maison du Colorado à n'importe qui !

They were always letting just anyone stay at their house in Colorado!

— Les Invasions barbares (2003)

Y avait des mecs, toute la journée ils passaient les coups de fil de Paulie.

There were guys who spent all day making Paulie's phone calls.

— Les Affranchis (1990)

Ils passaient leur temps à te saigner.

They were always bleeding you dry.

— Get Out Your Handkerchiefs (1978)

Sounds similar to