I thought [he/she/it] was
Ho sentito il suo respiro, credevo fosse la pioggia.
I heard his breathing, I thought it was the rain.
— Il paziente inglese (1996)
Credevo fosse sposato invece è divorziato da quasi tre anni ormai.
I thought he was married but he's been divorced for almost three years now.
Credevo fosse uno scherzo che le pellicole prendono fuoco.
I thought it was a joke that film reels catch fire.
— Nuovo Cinema Paradiso (1988)
Mi sento svenire, credevo fosse morto!
I feel faint, I thought he was dead!
— Il quinto elemento (1997)