saw, could see, was seeing, pictured, imagined
Je me suis cru très habile, mais je ne voyais pas l'essentiel.
I thought I was being very clever, but I was missing the point.
— Jean de Florette (1986)
Je ne voyais aucune raison de lui révéler ma situation financière réelle.
I saw no reason to reveal my true financial situation to him.
Tu le voyais pour les Corses, non ?
You were seeing him on behalf of the Corsicans, right?
— Un prophète (2009)
I saw you taller.
J’étais dans une impasse et ne voyais aucune solution de rechange.
I was at a dead end and couldn’t see any alternative.