io ero

I was, was

ˈɛ . r o → essere
verb · 1st-person singular, imperfect tense Extremely common #251
I was This form is used with io (I) and is often omitted because the verb already shows the subject.
IT: Ero a casa ieri sera.
EN: I was at home last night.
Conjugation of essere
Indicative imperfect
SingularPlural
First ero eravamo
Second eri eravate
Third era erano

Ero cieco, pensando che fosse amore, non profitto.

I was blind, thinking it was love, not profit.

Ero sulla copertina di Seventeen.

I was on the cover of Seventeen.

— Prova a prendermi (2002)

A quel punto ero libera di partire.

At that point, I was free to leave.

Ero in casa!

I was at home!

— Memorie di un assassino (2003)

Qualche giorno dopo, ero la nuova proprietaria di Harborview House.

A few days later, I was the new owner of Harborview House.

Ero veramente fiero di Tom.

I was really proud of Tom.

Ero malata la settimana scorsa.

I was sick last week.

Ero al concerto di Tom.

I was at Tom's concert.

Tom disse che ero brutto.

Tom said I was ugly.

Ero giusto di fronte a loro.

I was right in front of them.

Ero occupato.

I was busy.

Ero ubriaco fradicio.

I was dead drunk.

— Taxi Blues (1990)

Ero innamorato di lei una volta.

I was in love with her once.

Ero sempre diversi passi dietro di te.

I was always several steps behind you.

— Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Il Castello dell’Infinito (2025)

Ero divertito.

I was amused.

Perché non ero consapevole di questo?

Why wasn't I aware of this?

Ero molto ricco finché non l'ho incontrata.

I was very rich until I met her.

Ero completamente ubriaca.

I was completely drunk.

— Fuck you, prof! (2013)

Anche se ero divorziata con un figlio.

Even though I was divorced with a child.

— No Other Choice - Non c'è altra scelta (2025)

Ero talmente piccola che non ricordo bene.

I was so young that I don't remember clearly.

— Suzume (2022)

Ero in disaccordo.

I disagreed.

Come molti altri anch'io ero schiavo della"moda Ikea".

Like many others, I too was a slave to the “IKEA trend.”

— Fight Club (1999)

Ero pronta a lasciare la moschea.

I was ready to leave the mosque.

Ero d'accordo.

I agreed.

Ero, ero infelice.

I was, I was unhappy.

— Together (2025)

Avendo letto il libro, ero pronto per l'esame.

Having read the book, I was ready for the exam.

Ero malato lo scorso fine settimana.

I was sick last weekend.

Dissi che ero triste.

I said I was sad.

Ero al mio meglio.

I was at my best.

Ero già dentro.

I was already inside.

— Le vite degli altri (2006)

Oggi ho sognato che ero morto.

Today I dreamed that I was dead.

Quanto stupida ero nel pensare che tu fossi preoccupato del bambino!

How stupid I was to think you were worried about the baby!

— Loveless (2017)

Ero orgoglioso di lei.

I was proud of her.

Avevo solo bisogno che tu lo sapessi Non ero una persona cattiva.

I just needed you to know I wasn't a bad person.

— Una di famiglia (2025)

Ero così bravo?

Was I that good?

— Ricchi... da morire - Delitti in famiglia (2026)

Ero un animale.

I was an animal.

— Malcolm X (1992)

Ero intrappolato.

I was trapped.

— Una di famiglia (2025)

Però ero troppo in ritardo.

But I was too late.

Ti ho fatto una promessa ed ero serio.

I made you a promise and I meant it.

— Io sono nessuno 2 (2025)

Ero a Boston all'epoca.

I was in Boston at the time.

Come sapevate che ero a Boston?

How did you know I was in Boston?

Ero estremamente arrabbiata.

I was extremely angry.

Il primo giorno ero perso.

The first day I was lost.

— Tropa de elite 2 - Il nemico ora è un altro (2010)

Ero con Tom.

I was with Tom.

Ero terrorizzato.

I was terrified.

— Young Detective Dee - Il risveglio del drago marino (2013)

Ero in grado di osservare il flusso di sangue e ossigeno.

I was able to observe the flow of blood and oxygen.

— Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Il Castello dell’Infinito (2025)

Non sono ricco come ero una volta.

I'm not as rich as I used to be.

Ero proprio dietro di lui.

I was right behind him.

Ero minorenne e mio padre aveva la firma sui miei conti bancari.

I was a minor and my father had the signature on my bank accounts.

— I Tenenbaum (2001)

Ero all'aperto.

I was outdoors.

Ma ero ancora quasi addormentata, e non ricordo bene.

But I was still almost asleep, and I don’t remember clearly.

Ero sotto shock.

I was in shock.

— Rashomon (1950)

Ero giù vicino al fiume.

I was down by the river.

— La vita di Adele: Capitoli 1 & 2 (2013)

Per lei ero solo una tappa della vita.

For her I was just a stage in life.

— Angeli perduti (1995)

Ero pazzo di lei.

I was crazy about her.

— City of God (2002)

Il mio portafoglio è stato rubato mentre ero addormentata.

My wallet was stolen while I was asleep.

Ero così felice a Londra.

I was so happy in London.

— Anatomia di una caduta (2023)

Ero un grillo.

I was a cricket.

— Vivere! (1994)

Ero io al comando dell'operazione a Bangu, Segretario.

I was in charge of the operation in Bangu, Secretary.

— Tropa de elite 2 - Il nemico ora è un altro (2010)

Ero a Londra il mese scorso.

I was in London last month.

Ero sicuro che l'avresti detto.

I was sure you’d say that.

— F1 - Il film (2025)

Lì ero un minatore di carbone.

I was a coal miner there.

— Still Life (2006)

Com'ero allora?

What was I like back then?

— Oh Boy - Un caffè a Berlino (2012)

Ero molto stanco la scorsa notte.

I was very tired last night.

Chi le ha detto che ero canadese?

Who told you I was Canadian?

Ne ero certo!

I was certain of it!

— La spina del diavolo (2001)

Ero con lei per un'ora.

I was with her for an hour.

Ero in macchina.

I was in the car.

No, ero a Torino.

No, I was in Turin.

— La dolce vita (1960)

Mi ha detto che ero carina.

He told me I was pretty.

Ero quasi morto di sete.

I was almost dead of thirst.

Ho fatto una cazzata, ero fatto e ho preso quello sbagliato.

I screwed up, I was high and I got the wrong one.

— Laurence Anyways e il desiderio di una donna... (2012)

Mi hai chiesto se ero una figura della storia religiosa.

You asked me if I was a figure in religious history.

— L'uomo che venne dalla Terra (2007)

Ero anch'io così alla tua età.

I was like that too when I was your age.

— Le invasioni barbariche (2003)

Ero sposata con lui.

I was married to him.

— Rushmore (1998)

Ero il presidente.

I was the president.

— Rushmore (1998)

Quando mi sono svegliato ero triste.

When I woke up I was sad.

Ero pieno.

I was full.

Non ho detto che ero innamorata di lei.

I didn’t say I was in love with her.

Ero un pezzo di merda.

I was a piece of shit.

— Send Help (2026)

Ero l'amante di Jean Saporta.

I was Jean Saporta’s lover.

— Diva (1981)

Perché ero ancora lì?

Why was I still there?

— Everything Everywhere All at Once - La vita, il multiverso e tutto quanto (2022)

Ero a Parigi, in quei giorni.

I was in Paris in those days.

— Contrattempo (2017)

Quando ho incontrato Sibel ero morto.

When I met Sibel I was dead.

— La sposa turca (2004)

Ero soddisfatto del mio dono, finché mio padre non mi trovò un lavoro.

I was satisfied with my gift, until my father found me a job.

— Ratatouille (2007)

Gli dissi che ero interessata.

I told him I was interested.

Ero molto triste.

I was very sad.

— Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair (2011)

Ero con lui per tutto il giorno.

I was with him all day.

Ero troppo giovane per bere all'epoca.

I was too young to drink back then.

Ero in paradiso.

I was in heaven.

Tom mi disse che ero carina.

Tom told me I was pretty.

Io non sono la persona che ero.

I’m not the person I used to be.

Ero responsabile della carta speciale alla Solar, prima del licenziamento.

I was in charge of specialty paper at Solar, before I was laid off.

— No Other Choice - Non c'è altra scelta (2025)

Ero molto felice di vedere il mio vecchio amico.

I was very happy to see my old friend.

Ero annoiato a morte.

I was bored to death.

Eppure una volta ero un bravo ragazzo.

Yet I used to be a good boy.

— Fight Club (1999)

Ero impaziente di dimostrare il mio valore.

I was eager to prove my worth.

Non ha chiamato mentre ero in bagno?

Didn't he call while I was in the bathroom?

— Tutto su mia madre (1999)

Hai chiesto se ero sposata.

You asked if I was married.

— F1 - Il film (2025)

Ero piuttosto nervoso.

I was quite nervous.

Ero un procuratore.

I was a prosecutor.

— La vita straordinaria di David Copperfield (2019)

Ero la migliore nella mia classe d'inglese, ma tutti mi prendevano in giro.

I was the best in my English class, but everyone made fun of me.

— I fiori della guerra (2011)

Ho detto che ero impegnata.

I said I was busy.

Ero a casa da sola.

I was home alone.

Ero sollevato.

I was relieved.

E poi ero morto.

And then I was dead.

— Spider-Man - Un nuovo universo (2018)

Ero fiera di lei.

I was proud of her.

Ero morta di paura, lo conoscevo appena.

I was scared to death, I barely knew him.

— Y tu mamá también - Anche tua madre (2001)

Ero confuso dalla sua espressione.

I was confused by his expression.

Ero troppo impegnato per scrivervi.

I was too busy to write to you.

Ero salvo.

I was safe.

— Essi vivono (1988)

Per questo ero entusiasta della Norvegia.

That's why I was so excited about Norway.

— People we meet on vacation - Un amore in vacanza (2026)

Ero deluso da quei risultati.

I was disappointed with those results.

Il telegramma è arrivato mentre ero via.

The telegram arrived while I was away.

— Viaggio a Tokyo (1953)

Ero arrabbiato perché era in ritardo.

I was angry because he was late.

Io dissi a Tom che ero interessata a comprare uno dei suoi dipinti.

I told Tom that I was interested in buying one of his paintings.

Oh, ero qui in giro.

Oh, I was hanging around here.

— Picnic (1955)

Lo sapevo che era un posto noioso, ne ero sicuro.

I knew it was a boring place, I was sure of it.

— Famiglia all'improvviso - Istruzioni non incluse (2016)

Ero impegnato a cucinare.

I was busy cooking.

Tom era assonnato e anche io lo ero.

Tom was sleepy and so was I.

Ero più che felice di farlo.

I was more than happy to do it.

— Mangiare bere uomo donna (1994)

Ma non lo ero.

But I wasn't.

— Tropa de elite 2 - Il nemico ora è un altro (2010)

Ero un testimone.

I was a witness.

Anch'io una volta ero un Cavaliere.

I was a knight once too.

— L'illusione perfetta - Now You See Me: Now You Don't (2025)

Ero leggermente delusa.

I was a little disappointed.

Ero a letto.

I was in bed.

Ero solo un bambino.

I was just a kid.

— La grazia (2025)

Camila, non potevo dirti che ero vivo.

Camila, I couldn’t tell you I was alive.

— Cidade dos Homens (2007)

Ero fredda e bagnata.

I was cold and wet.

Ero nei guai.

I was in trouble.

— Barfi! (2012)

Ero contenta, così portai tutti e cinque a cena.

I was happy, so I took all five of them out to dinner.

Ero troppo occupato per scriverle.

I was too busy to write to her.

Le ho detto che ero d'accordo con lei.

I told her that I agreed with her.

Ero in un gruppo.

I was in a group.

Prima ero custode della scuola.

I used to be a school custodian.

— La donna che canta (2010)

Ero scioccato dalla notizia di ieri.

I was shocked by yesterday’s news.

Ero dentro.

I was inside.

— Anatomia di una caduta (2023)

Mi sono chiesta su chi potevo contare, ero disperata.

I wondered who I could count on; I was desperate.

— Tre colori - Film blu (1993)

Ero molto impegnato ieri.

I was very busy yesterday.

Ero autorizzata.

I was authorized.

— War Machine (2026)

Per ora, ero ricco.

For now, I was rich.

— Ricchi... da morire - Delitti in famiglia (2026)

Ero una foresta in una vita passata.

I was a forest in a past life.

Stavolta ero un gentiluomo, con dei soldi in tasca.

This time I was a gentleman, with money in my pocket.

— La vita straordinaria di David Copperfield (2019)

Ero loquace.

I was talkative.

— TÁR (2022)

Ero abbastanza grande per capire!

I was old enough to understand!

— Mangiare bere uomo donna (1994)

Ero fuori per una camminata.

I was out for a walk.

Ero nel mio camerino, bastava chiamarmi.

I was in my dressing room, all you had to do was call me.

— Effetto notte (1973)

Lo ero.

I was.

— Il fratello grande (2000)

Le ho detto che ero sposata.

I told her I was married.

Ero in vacanza.

I was on vacation.

— Quasi amici - Intouchables (2011)

Ah, non ero sicura di dove fossi.

Ah, I wasn't sure where I was.

— TÁR (2022)

Anche quella volta ero in bagno, ed ho sentito piangere una donna.

That time I was in the bathroom too, and I heard a woman crying.

— Memorie di un assassino (2003)

Ero seconda.

I was second.

Ero di ottimo umore.

I was in a great mood.

Una volta mi disse anche che ero sexy.

He even once told me I was sexy.

— Lady Vendetta (2005)

Ero bloccata e non vedevo vie d’uscita.

I was stuck and couldn’t see a way out.

Ho detto a Tom che ero interessata.

I told Tom I was interested.

Una volta ero come te.

I was once like you.

Ero abituato al caldo.

I was used to the heat.

Mentre l'ascoltavo dire ciò, ero improvvisamente diventato geloso.

As I listened to him say that, I suddenly became jealous.

— Burning - L'amore brucia (2018)

Ero gelosa di voi.

I was jealous of you.

Ero nervoso all'inizio.

I was nervous at first.

Ero incosciente, ok, non sapevo cosa stessi facendo.

I was unconscious, okay, I didn't know what I was doing.

— Together (2025)

Ero seduto accanto a loro.

I was sitting next to them.

Ero disarmato.

I was unarmed.

Ero certo che sarei arrivato da qualche parte.

I was certain that I would get somewhere.

— Barfi! (2012)

Sono un attore migliore di quello che ero un tempo?

Am I a better actor than I used to be?

— Il cielo sopra Berlino (1987)

Dicevano che ero carino.

They said I was cute.

— Laurence Anyways e il desiderio di una donna... (2012)

Ero stufa del Galaxy.

I was tired of the Galaxy.

— Roma (2018)

Ero in bagno.

I was in the bathroom.

Non dissi a Tom che ero sposata.

I didn't tell Tom that I was married.

Ero veramente curioso.

I was really curious.

Quando ero giovane ero bella almeno quanto lei.

When I was young I was at least as beautiful as her.

— Picnic (1955)

Una volta ero un'insegnante.

I used to be a teacher.

Ero ai controlli.

I was at the controls.

— People we meet on vacation - Un amore in vacanza (2026)

Ero giovane all'epoca.

I was young at the time.

Sai, una volta ero geloso di te.

You know, I was jealous of you once.

— Il filo del ricatto - Dead Man's Wire (2026)

Ero nuovo.

I was new.

È vero, ma anch'io ero un poveraccio, cosa credi?

It's true, but I was broke too, what do you think?

— Amarcord (1973)

Ho pensato a te, ero sempre preoccupato, per come riuscivi a vivere.

I thought about you; I was always worried about how you managed to get by.

— Vivere! (1994)

Ero tutto orecchi.

I was all ears.

Ero innamorata di lei una volta.

I was in love with her once.

Non appena l'ho vista, ho sentito che ero un porto per lei.

As soon as I saw her, I felt that I was a safe haven for her.

— Angeli perduti (1995)

Ero semplicemente interessato per una tua vecchia amica.

I was simply interested in an old friend of yours.

— La Forma della Voce (2016)

Come facevi a sapere che ero qui?

How did you know I was here?

— Tempo d'estate (1955)

Ero distratta.

I was distracted.

L'anno scorso ero uno studente del primo anno.

Last year I was a first-year student.

Qualcun altro mi avrebbe uccisa, ero destinata a morire così.

Someone else would have killed me, I was destined to die like this.

— Indagine su un cittadino al di sopra di ogni sospetto (1970)

Ero come Tom quando avevo la sua età.

I was like Tom when I was his age.

Ero sveglia ad aspettarti.

I was awake waiting for you.

— Lussuria - Seduzione e tradimento (2007)

Ero in classe con bimbi di sette anni.

I was in a class with seven-year-olds.

— Niente di nuovo sul fronte occidentale (2022)

Ehi, ho detto che ero dispiaciuta.

Hey, I said I was sorry.

Sì, ero con lui, allora.

Yes, I was with him then.

— Storie pazzesche (2014)

Io ho ucciso mentre ero in prigione.

I killed while I was in prison.

— Lady Vendetta (2005)

Ero veramente preoccupato.

I was really worried.

Ero malata lo scorso weekend.

I was sick last weekend.

Ero al liceo quando sono arrivati gli alieni.

I was in high school when the aliens arrived.

— Thunderbolts* (2025)

Tom disse che ero pigra.

Tom said I was lazy.

Gli ho detto che ero ad un servizio fotografico.

I told him I was at a photo shoot.

— Laurence Anyways e il desiderio di una donna... (2012)

Ero giusto dietro di loro.

I was right behind them.

auxiliary · 1st-person singular, imperfect tense Common #5,571
was Used as an auxiliary with a past participle to form the past perfect; the participle agrees with the subject.
IT: Ero arrivata presto.
EN: I had arrived early.
Conjugation of essere
Indicative imperfect
SingularPlural
First ero eravamo
Third era erano

Dov'ero rimasta?

Where had I left off?

— La canzone del mare (2014)

M'ero sbagliato.

I was wrong.

— I Saw the Devil (2010)

L'ho trovata in Giappone quando c'ero andato con la band.

I found her in Japan when I went there with the band.

— Juno (2007)

Gli ha detto ch'ero passata?

Did he tell him that I had stopped by?

— Les choristes - I ragazzi del coro (2004)

Me l'ero dimenticato.

I had forgotten about it.

— I guardiani del giorno (2006)

C’ero andata con Keith per raccontare del furto con scasso.

I’d gone there with Keith to report the break-in.

Mia mamma diceva sempre che ero nato sotto una buona stella.

My mom always said I was born under a lucky star.

— Kilo Due Bravo - Ad un passo dalla morte (2014)

Dopo l'operazione ero felice, dato che ero riuscito ad eliminare il cancro.

After the operation, I was happy because I had managed to eliminate the cancer.

Ero stata seduta e avevo voglia di camminare.

I had been sitting and wanted to go for a walk.

Ero uscita a uccidere qualcuno.

I went out to kill someone.

— The Garden of Sinners Chapter 5: Paradox Paradigm (2008)

C'ero già stata.

I had already been there.

— Vi presento Toni Erdmann (2016)

Ero passato a trovare mia zia.

I had stopped by to visit my aunt.

— L'odio (1995)

Dove ero rimasto?

Where was I?

— Quasi amici - Intouchables (2011)

Me n’ero quasi dimenticato.

I’d almost forgotten about it.

Ero andata a prendere Mak Tai Tai in albergo.

I had gone to pick up Mak Tai Tai at the hotel.

— Lussuria - Seduzione e tradimento (2007)

È veramente tardi, ero passato per un momento.

It's really late; I just stopped by for a moment.

— The Monster (1994)

In che modo ero stata male?

How had I been feeling sick?

Ero rimasto solo.

I was left alone.

— Carandiru (2003)

Ero arrivata in Italia senza difficoltà.

I had arrived in Italy without difficulty.

Katrina doveva aver lavorato sodo nei pochi giorni in cui ero stata via.

Katrina must have worked hard during the few days I was away.

Ero stata davvero fortunata.

I’d been really lucky.

Fantastico, dove cazzo ero rimasta?

Fantastic, where the hell was I?

— Scream 7 (2026)

Ero venuto a prendere la birra!

I had come to get the beer!

— Il tamburo di latta (1979)

Non ero mai stata lanciata.

I had never been launched.

— Predator: Badlands (2025)

Hanno detto che me l'ero sognato.

They said I had imagined it.

— Picnic (1955)

Ieri sera ero uscito a registrare dei suoni.

Last night I went out to record some sounds.

— Blow Out (1981)

Ero riuscita a restare sveglia quando ne avevo bisogno.

I’d managed to stay awake when I needed to.

Io ero stata fatta prigioniera.

I had been taken prisoner.

Quando ero acclamato dalla folla.

When I was cheered by the crowd.

— Thunderbolts* (2025)

Ero uscita a prendere aria.

I had gone out to get some fresh air.

Perché ammettiamolo, la prima volta, ero stato fortunato.

Because, let’s face it, the first time I got lucky.

— Ricchi... da morire - Delitti in famiglia (2026)

Quella sera ero andata all'appuntamento.

That evening, I had gone to the appointment.

— Hong Kong Express (1994)

Ero venuto solo a prendere una cosa.

I had only come to pick something up.

— Juno (2007)

C'ero quasi riuscito.

I almost managed it.

— Amarcord (1973)

Dov'ero rimasto?

Where was I?

— La storia fantastica (1987)

Ero invecchiato.

I had grown old.

— Le invasioni barbariche (2003)

Chi le ha detto che ero tornata?

Who told her I was back?

Non ero andata nel panico.

I hadn’t panicked.

Ero scesa a fare il caffè.

I went down to make coffee.

— Anatomia di una caduta (2023)

In qualche modo ero riuscita a far scattare Saunders, senza volerlo.

Somehow, I’d managed to set Saunders off without meaning to.

Sarebbe stato difficile ma ero arrivato dove nessun"Teschio"era mai stato.

It would have been difficult, but I had made it where no “Skull” had ever been before.

— Tropa de elite 2 - Il nemico ora è un altro (2010)

Ero stato fatto prigioniero.

I had been taken prisoner.

Non me li ero mai trovati davanti.

I had never come across them before.

— I peccatori (2025)

Perché non me n’ero accorta prima?

Why hadn’t I noticed before?

Non mi ci ero mai immerso davvero.

I had never really immersed myself in it.

— Titanic (1997)

Ci fu chi disse che ero stato io e chi invece vide che non ero stato io.

There were those who said it was me and those who saw that it wasn't me.

— Carandiru (2003)

Ero passato da te e ho incrociato il signor Akitaka.

I passed by your place and ran into Mr. Akitaka.

— The Garden of Sinners Chapter 5: Paradox Paradigm (2008)

Ero andato lì per provare una nuova pellicola.

I went there to try out a new film.

— Blow Out (1981)

Io ero già andato via.

I had already left.

— Scream 7 (2026)

Quando avevo la tua età, ero già stata con parecchi uomini.

When I was your age, I’d already been with quite a few men.

— I fiori della guerra (2011)

Ci ero arrivata.

I got there.

— L'uomo che venne dalla Terra (2007)

Ero arrivato in Italia senza difficoltà.

I had arrived in Italy without difficulty.

Io ero preso dal vortice.

I was caught up in the whirlwind.

— Dolor y gloria (2019)

Per un attimo ci ero cascato.

For a moment I fell for it.

— Durante la tormenta (2018)

Ero stata lì tre anni fa in vacanza.

I had been there three years ago on holiday.

— Picnic (1955)

Io non ero neanche nato quando è successo questo fatto, non otterrà niente.

I wasn't even born when this happened, he won't get anything.

— Aquarius (2016)

Me le ero scordate queste foto.

I had forgotten about these photos.

Ero venuto per scusarmi per prima, mi dispiace tanto.

I came to apologize for earlier. I’m so sorry.

— The Monster (1994)

Io ero arrivato in Italia senza difficoltà.

I arrived in Italy without difficulty.

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