were holding, were keeping, were taking place
Quand j'avais ton âge, les livres tenaient lieu de télévision.
When I was your age, books took the place of television.
— Princess Bride (1987)
Ils se tenaient au haut de la colline.
They stood at the top of the hill.
Les passagers se tenaient debout dans le couloir bondé.
The passengers were standing in the crowded corridor.
Un groupe de gens se tenaient à l'extérieur, à attendre.
A group of people were standing outside, waiting.
Les premiers essais d'humains tenaient à peine debout.
The first human trials could barely stand upright.
— Bugonia (2025)
Mais d'autres lui tenaient vraiment à cœur.
But others really mattered to him.
— Love Actually (2003)