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je tenais

was holding, held, was behaving, behaved, cared about

→ tenir
ten to hold out + ais je/tu imperfect conjugation
verb · 1st-person singular / 2nd-person singular, imperfect tense Uncommon #17,095
was holding, held
FR: Je tenais mon sac d'une main.
EN: I was holding my bag in one hand.
was behaving, behaved
FR: Je me tenais correctement pendant le repas.
EN: I behaved properly during the meal.
cared about, was keen on
FR: Tu tenais beaucoup à cette idée.
EN: You cared a lot about this idea.
couldn't stand, couldn't take Used in the expression « ne plus y tenir »: to be unable to wait or endure any longer.
FR: Je n'y tenais plus et je suis parti.
EN: I couldn't take it any longer, so I left.
Conjugation of tenir
Indicative imperfect
SingularPlural
First tenais —
Second tenais —
Third tenait tenaient

Pourquoi lui tenais-tu la main ?

Why were you holding his hand?

Pourtant, j'y tenais vraiment.

I really cared about it, though.

— Nobody Knows (2004)

Je me tenais tout au bord, il y avait un abîme noir devant mes pieds.

I was standing right at the edge, with a black abyss at my feet.

— Le Seigneur des anneaux : Le Retour du roi (2003)

Je me tenais à côté de lui.

I stood next to him.

Je ne tenais plus debout.

I could no longer stand.

Je me tenais à deux pas de lui.

I was standing just a couple of steps away from him.

— Alien³ (1992)

Je le tenais.

I held him.

Quand j'étais petit, je tenais un journal.

When I was little, I kept a diary.

Toutes ces années, je me tenais informée sur toi.

All these years I kept myself informed about you.

C’était toujours ma version des faits, et je m’y tenais.

That was always my version of events, and I stuck to it.

Je me tenais là avec mon sac à provisions.

I was standing there with my shopping bag.

— Une journée particulière (1977)

C'est pour ça que tu tenais à ce voyage.

That’s why you were so keen on this trip.

— On ne vit qu'une seule fois (2011)

Je ne tenais pas du tout à t'emmener.

I really didn't want to take you with me.

— L’Enfance d’Ivan (1962)

Tu tenais tant à ce voyage.

You cared so much about this trip.

— Locataires (2004)

Je le tenais comme je te vois !

I was holding it, as sure as I’m looking at you!

— La Haine (1995)

Tu me tenais par la main.

You were holding my hand.

— La Double Vie de Véronique (1991)

Le troisième jour je n'y tenais plus, je me suis précipité à la maison.

By the third day, I couldn't stand it anymore, so I rushed home.

— Solaris (1972)

Il menaça de me punir si je ne me tenais pas correctement.

He threatened to punish me if I didn't behave properly.

Je les tenais.

I had them.

— Bullet Train (2022)

Je le tenais presque, et zut !

I was almost got it, and darn it!

— La dolce vita (1960)

Je le tenais, il m'a échappé.

I had hold of it, but it slipped away.

— Dans ses yeux (2009)

Je t'avais dit que je me tenais informée.

I told you I'd keep myself informed.

Je le tenais par la main.

I was holding him by the hand.

— Ne le dis à personne (2006)

Ce jour-là, tu tenais ce camionneur d'Inglewood entre tes griffes.

That day, you had that trucker from Inglewood in your clutches.

— Assurance sur la mort (1944)

J'y tenais.

I wanted to.

Je tenais aussi à toi, à ma façon.

I cared about you too, in my own way.

Je me tenais là.

I stood there.