Yap.Town

je tenais

was holding, was keeping

→ tenir
ten to hold + ais je/tu imperfect
verb · first singular · imperfect indicative Uncommon #16,133
was holding, was keeping Imperfect tense of « tenir » (je/tu): used for ongoing or habitual past actions.
FR: Je tenais la porte pendant que tu entrais.
EN: I was holding the door while you were coming in.
Conjugation of tenir
Indicative imperfect
SingularPlural
First tenais —
Second tenais —
Third tenait tenaient

Je ne tenais pas du tout à t'emmener.

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

— L’Enfance d’Ivan (1962)

Je le tenais.

I held him.

Je les tenais.

I had them.

— Bullet Train (2022)

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)

J'y tenais.

I wanted to.

Je le tenais par la main.

I was holding him by the hand.

— Ne le dis à personne (2006)

Toutes ces années, je me tenais informée sur toi.

All these years I kept myself informed about you.

Je me tenais là.

I stood there.

Quand j'étais petit, je tenais un journal.

When I was little, I kept a diary.

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)

Je ne tenais plus debout.

I could no longer stand.

Pourquoi lui tenais-tu la main ?

Why were you holding his hand?

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)

Je le tenais presque, et zut !

I was almost got it, and darn it!

— La dolce vita (1960)

Je me tenais à côté de lui.

I stood next to him.

Tu tenais tant à ce voyage.

You cared so much about this trip.

— Locataires (2004)

Je tenais aussi à toi, à ma façon.

I cared about you too, in my own way.

Pourtant, j'y tenais vraiment.

I really cared about it, though.

— Nobody Knows (2004)

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 comme je te vois.

I held it just as clearly as I see you.

— La Haine (1995)

Je me tenais là avec mon sac à provisions.

I was standing there with my shopping bag.

— Une journée particulière (1977)