ils passaient

were passing, used to pass

p a . s ɛ → passer
pass pass; go through + aient imperfect tense, they
verb · third plural · imperfect indicative Rare #30,646
were passing, used to pass Imperfect tense (third person plural: ils/elles).
FR: Ils passaient devant l'école tous les matins.
EN: They used to pass in front of the school every morning.
Conjugation of passer
Indicative imperfect
SingularPlural
Second passiez
Third passait passaient

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)

Les circuits du cheval ne passaient pas en Argentine.

Horse racing circuits did not pass through Argentina.

— Douleur et gloire (2019)

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)

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

There were strange things happening there.

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)

Et chaque dimanche, ils passaient un film.

And every Sunday, they would show a movie.

— On ne vit qu'une seule fois (2011)

Des nuages noirs passaient au-dessus de la ville.

Dark clouds were passing over the city.

Pendant que les propriétaires passaient dans la chambre à gaz.

While the owners were being sent to the gas chamber.

— Les Faussaires (2007)

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)

Sounds similar to