loro fossero

were, had

ˈf o s . s e . r o → essere
foss be + ero they past subjunctive
verb · 3rd-person plural, imperfect tense Common #2,526
were
IT: Pensavo che fossero a casa.
EN: I thought they were at home.
Conjugation of essere
Subjunctive imperfect
SingularPlural
First fossi fossimo
Second fossi foste
Third fosse fossero

Tom non sapeva chi fossero i genitori di Mary.

Tom didn't know who Mary's parents were.

Sono sicuro che Tom e Mary non fossero sorpresi.

I'm sure Tom and Mary weren't surprised.

A dire il vero, non avevo idea neppure io di cosa fossero quei quaderni.

To be honest, I had no idea what those notebooks were either.

Vorrei davvero che le cose fossero diverse.

I really wish things were different.

— Una di famiglia (2025)

Come se non ci fossero limiti.

As if there were no limits.

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

Sembrava che fossero stanche.

They looked like they were tired.

Pensate che Tom e Mary fossero annoiati?

Do you think Tom and Mary were bored?

Leon non sapeva nemmeno che ore fossero.

Leon didn't even know what time it was.

Pensi davvero che Tom e Mary fossero nervosi?

Do you really think Tom and Mary were nervous?

Vorrei che Tom e Mary fossero qua.

I wish Tom and Mary were here.

E se fossero un bel mucchio di perché?

What if it was a bunch of whys?

— C'era una volta il West (1968)

Io penso che Tom e Mary fossero imbarazzati.

I think Tom and Mary were embarrassed.

Pensavo che le domande fossero facili.

I thought the questions were easy.

Non sapevo che Tom e Mary fossero pronti.

I didn't know Tom and Mary were ready.

Vincent sapeva benissimo chi fossero le tre donne.

Vincent knew perfectly well who the three women were.

Io pensavo che Tom e Mary fossero colpevoli.

I thought Tom and Mary were guilty.

Io pensavo che Tom e Mary fossero sposati.

I thought Tom and Mary were married.

A quei tempi credevo che ci fossero cose più importanti.

Back then I thought there were more important things.

— Amores perros (2000)

Julio e Tenoch non sapevano dove fossero o come arrivare a destinazione.

Julio and Tenoch didn't know where they were or how to get to their destination.

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

Pensavo che Tom e Mary fossero canadesi.

I thought Tom and Mary were Canadian.

Pensavo che fossero loro.

I thought it was them.

Pensavo che Tom e Mary fossero gemelli.

I thought Tom and Mary were twins.

Il Preside parlava di apprendisti, così gli ho chiesto quali fossero le regole.

The headmaster was talking about apprentices, so I asked him what the rules were.

Chhoto-Ma, volevi che fossero i tuoi occhi a vederlo per primi?

Chhoto-Ma, did you want your eyes to be the first to see it?

— देवदास (2002)

Chi pensa che fossero?

Who do you think they were?

Pensavo che Tom e Mary fossero una coppia così bella.

I thought Tom and Mary were such a cute couple.

Ho chiesto perché Tom e Mary fossero in ritardo.

I asked why Tom and Mary were late.

Deve essere stato così perché Non sapevo nemmeno come fossero.

It must have been that way because I didn't even know what they looked like.

— Tempo d'estate (1955)

Se non ci fossero tanti gesuiti.

If there weren't so many Jesuits.

— Il gattopardo (1963)

Riesci a vedere questi come se fossero lune?

Can you see these as moons?

— La Forma della Voce (2016)

Io non pensavo che Tom e Mary fossero affamati.

I didn't think Tom and Mary were hungry.

Credevo che fossero due gemelli, invece pare che sia uno solo.

I thought they were twins, but it looks like it's just one.

— Effetto notte (1973)

Non sono sicuro che fossero zombi.

I'm not sure they were zombies.

— I morti non muoiono (2019)

Mi pare fossero in quel cassetto.

I think they were in that drawer.

— La vita straordinaria di David Copperfield (2019)

Dovevo solo capire quali fossero.

I just needed to figure out what they were.

Sembrava che fossero tristi.

They looked like they were sad.

Lei pensa che Tom e Mary fossero annoiati?

Do you think Tom and Mary were bored?

Se fossero vere entrambe le cose?

What if both were true?

— Bugonia (2025)

Sami credeva che tutti i musulmani fossero terroristi.

Sami believed that all Muslims were terrorists.

Iniziai a chiedermi se fossero tutti solo pazzi.

I began to wonder if they were all just crazy.

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

E se gli altri fossero d'accordo?

What if the others agreed?

— L'attimo fuggente (1989)

Io pensavo che Tom e Mary fossero entrambi morti.

I thought Tom and Mary were both dead.

Hanno aspettato che tutti fossero in licenza per farlo.

They waited until everyone was on leave to do it.

— Star Trek II - L'ira di Khan (1982)

Non ho mai immaginato che i nostri soldati fossero anche dei grandi atleti!

I never imagined that our soldiers were also great athletes!

— La battaglia dei tre regni - Parte 1 (2008)

Pensavo che Tom e Mary fossero entrambi morti.

I thought Tom and Mary were both dead.

Non ci riesco a guardarli come fossero lune.

I can't look at them like they're moons.

— La Forma della Voce (2016)

Tom non chiese quali fossero le regole.

Tom didn't ask what the rules were.

Pensavamo che fossero tutti qui!

We thought they were all here!

— [REC] (2007)

Sembrava che Tom e Mary fossero esausti.

It looked like Tom and Mary were exhausted.

Pensavo che Tom e Mary fossero infelici.

I thought Tom and Mary were unhappy.

Voi pensate che Tom e Mary fossero soddisfatti?

Do you think Tom and Mary were satisfied?

Non penso che Tom e Mary fossero coinvolti nello scandalo.

I don't think Tom and Mary were involved in the scandal.

Vorrei che i miei figli fossero intelligenti come i vostri.

I wish my children were as smart as yours.

Mi chiedo perché Tom e fossero sorpresi.

I wonder why Tom and I were surprised.

Sembrava che fossero depressi.

They seemed to be depressed.

Se fossero di Little Rock?

What if they were from Little Rock?

— I peccatori (2025)

Pensava che gli americani fossero onesti, a differenza di noi.

He thought Americans were honest, unlike us.

— Il fratello grande (2000)

Non sapevo che Tom e Mary fossero imparentati.

I didn’t know Tom and Mary were related.

Certo, anche se fossero cent'anni, aspetterò.

Of course, even if it takes a hundred years, I’ll wait.

— Si alza il vento (2013)

Io pensavo che Tom e Mary fossero affamati.

I thought Tom and Mary were hungry.

Io pensavo che Tom e Mary fossero impegnati.

I thought Tom and Mary were engaged.

Pensavo che tutti fossero felici.

I thought everyone was happy.

Pensavo che Tom e Mary fossero adolescenti.

I thought Tom and Mary were teenagers.

Mi avevano chiesto chi fossero i miei genitori, dov’era il mio tutore.

They had asked me who my parents were and where my guardian was.

Proprio come tua sorella, butti via le mance come fossero acqua.

Just like your sister, you throw away tips like water.

— Mangiare bere uomo donna (1994)

Pensavo che fossero felici per me.

I thought they were happy for me.

— Oh Boy - Un caffè a Berlino (2012)

Pensavo che Tom e Mary fossero fantastici.

I thought Tom and Mary were great.

Come fossero una squadra della morte, cazzo.

Like they were a death squad, damn it.

— Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair (2011)

Ho sempre creduto che lo fossero.

I always believed they were.

— La storia infinita (1984)

Si dice che non fossero solo campi di lavoro.

It is said that they were not just labor camps.

— Norimberga (2025)

Sostiene di aver creduto che fossero solo campi di lavoro?

Do you claim to have believed they were just labor camps?

— Norimberga (2025)

Pensavo fossero solo rinforzi.

I thought they were just reinforcements.

— Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015)

Sembrava che Tom e Mary fossero nervosi.

Tom and Mary seemed nervous.

Per mia fortuna, avevo scoperto chi fossero i miei veri nemici in tempo.

Luckily for me, I had discovered who my real enemies were in time.

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

Pensavo che Tom e Mary fossero terrorizzati.

I thought Tom and Mary were terrified.

Prima che ci fossero gli ebrei e i cristiani, noi eravamo neri.

Before there were Jews and Christians, we were black.

— Malcolm X (1992)

Io vorrei che ci fossero meno compiti.

I wish there were less homework.

Pensa che Tom e Mary fossero annoiati?

Do you think Tom and Mary were bored?

Io non so chi fossero.

I don’t know who they were.

Chi poteva immaginare che fossero così idioti?

Who would have thought they were so stupid?

— Le vite degli altri (2006)

Non credevo che ci fossero davvero.

I didn't think they really existed.

— I sette samurai (1954)

Kat mi aveva detto di annotare chi fossero.

Kat had told me to write down who they were.

Sembrava che fossero stanchi.

They looked like they were tired.

Ero sicura che fossero ancora qui!

I was sure they were still here!

— Tre uomini in fuga (1966)

Crediamo che Ethan e Benji fossero lì.

We believe Ethan and Benji were there.

— Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015)

Non sapevo che Tom e Mary fossero soli.

I didn't know that Tom and Mary were alone.

Penso che fossero loro.

I think it was them.

Io pensavo che Tom e Mary fossero disperati.

I thought Tom and Mary were desperate.

Volevo che vivesse, Davy, quali che fossero le sue colpe.

I wanted him to live, Davy, whatever his faults were.

— La vita straordinaria di David Copperfield (2019)

Credevo fossero tutti in Russia.

I thought they were all in Russia.

— Arrivederci ragazzi (1987)

Pensavo che Tom e Mary fossero disperati.

I thought Tom and Mary were desperate.

Come se fossero ricordi di un viaggio da cui si tornerà.

As if they were memories of a journey from which one will return.

— La società della neve (2023)

Pensavo che fossero terribili.

I thought they were terrible.

Sembrava che Tom e Mary fossero depressi.

It seemed like Tom and Mary were depressed.

Pensavo che Tom e Mary fossero in pensione.

I thought Tom and Mary were retired.

E se non fossero solo luoghi di riferimento?

What if they weren't just landmarks?

— Paddington 2 (2017)

Fossero stati i briganti, non avresti più la testa.

If it had been the bandits, you would have lost your head.

— I sette samurai (1954)

Dovevo indovinare chi fossero.

I had to guess who they were.

— L'ultimo imperatore (1987)

Se non ci fossero telefoni, sarebbe sconveniente.

If there were no telephones, it would be inconvenient.

Io non sapevo che Tom e Mary fossero insegnanti di francese.

I didn't know that Tom and Mary were French teachers.

In caso ci fossero altre domande.

In case you have any other questions.

— L'uomo che venne dalla Terra (2007)

Vorrei che i miei figli fossero intelligenti come i suoi.

I wish my children were as smart as his.

Non so se fossero lì.

I don't know if they were there.

— La La Land (2016)

Beh, nel periodo in cui ero membro, pensavo fossero sicuramente due cose.

Well, during the time I was a member, I thought they were definitely two things.

— Oppenheimer (2023)

Chiesi perché Tom e Mary fossero in ritardo.

I asked why Tom and Mary were late.

Quanto vorrei che fossero vere.

How I wish they were true.

— La tomba delle lucciole (1988)

Sono sicura che Tom e Mary non fossero sorpresi.

I'm sure Tom and Mary weren't surprised.

E se fossero ancora vivi?

What if they were still alive?

— Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo (1966)

Io spero che non ci fossero troppi errori.

I hope there weren’t too many mistakes.

Non c'è dubbio che Tom e Mary fossero i ladri.

There’s no doubt that Tom and Mary were the thieves.

Si penserebbe che fossero eccitati dopo tanto tempo.

You'd think they'd be excited after such a long time.

— L'organo genocida (2017)

Ho conosciuto diverse donne che si diceva fossero streghe.

I have known several women who were said to be witches.

— Suspiria (1977)

Ma ti prego di informarmi se ci fossero altri problemi.

But please let me know if there are any other problems.

— Vi presento Toni Erdmann (2016)

Io pensavo che Tom e Mary fossero gentili.

I thought Tom and Mary were kind.

Pensavo che tutti a Fuoshan fossero come Wong Fei Hung ma in realtà sono vermi.

I thought everyone in Foshan was like Wong Fei-hung, but in reality, they are worms.

— Ip Man (2008)

Pensavo che fossero ali di pollo.

I thought they were chicken wings.

— The Mermaid (2016)

Pensavo che Tom e Mary fossero falsi.

I thought Tom and Mary were fake.

Alcuni pensavano che fossero pazzi.

Some thought they were crazy.

— Die My Love (2025)

Sembrava che Tom e Mary fossero frustrati.

It looked like Tom and Mary were frustrated.

Pensavo che Tom e Mary fossero musicisti.

I thought Tom and Mary were musicians.

auxiliary · 3rd-person plural, imperfect tense Uncommon #21,287
were Used to form the passive; it often appears after expressions of necessity or command.
IT: Voleva che fossero invitati tutti.
EN: She wanted everyone to be invited.
had Used with a past participle to form a subjunctive perfect tense.
IT: Speravo che fossero arrivati in tempo.
EN: I hoped they had arrived on time.
Conjugation of essere
Subjunctive imperfect
SingularPlural
Third fosse fossero

Se fossero partiti prima avrebbero evitato il traffico.

If they had left earlier they would have avoided the traffic.

E se non fossero andati da nessuna parte?

What if they hadn't gone anywhere?

— Star Trek II - L'ira di Khan (1982)

È come se fossero spariti in un buco.

It's as if they disappeared into a hole.

— Vite vendute (1953)

Era indispensabile che fossero invitati.

It was essential that they be invited.

— Il gattopardo (1963)

O come fossero arrivate lì.

Or how they got there.

— It's Such a Beautiful Day (2012)

E se fossero tornati per riprovarci?

What if they came back to try again?

— Zootropolis 2 (2025)

Mi chiedo se non fossero venuti a cercare proprio Dee.

I wonder if they had come looking for Dee.

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

Credevo che Tom e Mary si fossero già conosciuti.

I thought Tom and Mary had already met.

Vorrei tanto che le cose fossero andate diversamente tra noi.

I really wish things had gone differently between us.

Se fossero venuti solo per cantare?

What if they had come just to sing?

— I peccatori (2025)

Non sapevo fossero tornati.

I didn't know they were back.

— Marty Supreme (2025)

Eh, Masha, se ci fossero stati progressi, te ne avrei certamente parlato.

Eh, Masha, if there had been any progress, I would certainly have told you about it.

— Loveless (2017)

Maledizione, se solo quelli non fossero mai arrivati!

Damn, if only those had never come!

— Nausicaä della Valle del vento (1984)

Hai ordinato che fossero picchiati a sangue!

You ordered them to be beaten bloody!

— Il segreto dei suoi occhi (2009)