era successo

had happened

→ essere

phrase Rare #36,420

had happened Used for the masculine singular form of the past perfect. In context, it often means “had happened to him/her/it” depending on what follows.

IT: Non sapevo cosa era successo.

EN: I didn't know what had happened.

Nessuno voleva ammettere la verità su quello che era successo.

No one wanted to admit the truth about what had happened.

Sapevo come era successo.

I knew how it had happened.

— Anatomia di una caduta (2023)

Se lasciava una bottiglia a metà, era successo qualcosa di serio.

If he left a bottle half-finished, something serious had happened.

— Central do Brasil (1998)

Che le era successo?

What happened to her?

— Parla con lei (2002)

Loro dissero che era successo qualcosa di terribile a Mary.

They said something terrible had happened to Mary.

Quindi pensai di capire cosa le era successo, prendendo la sua mano.

So I thought I'd find out what had happened to her by taking her hand.

— पीके (2014)