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s’étaient

had …

→ se
phrase Rare #43,155
had … Used with a plural subject to form the past perfect of a pronominal verb.
FR: Ils s’étaient déjà couchés.
EN: They had already gone to bed.

Les gens s’étaient réfugiés dans une église en pensant être sauvés.

The people had taken refuge in a church, thinking they were safe.

— The Salt of the Earth (2014)

Elles ne s’étaient pas attendues à ce que je leur dise cela.

They hadn’t expected me to tell them that.

Ils s’étaient trompés.

They were mistaken.

Puis les hommes s’étaient retrouvés trop occupés.

Then the men had found themselves too busy.

Plusieurs volontaires s’étaient proposés pour l’aider.

Several volunteers had offered to help him.

À l’avant, les gens s’étaient levés et criaient.

Up front, people had stood up and were shouting.