was looking at, was watching
Una volta la gente guardava il fuoco come oggi si guarda la TV.
Once upon a time, people watched fire like they watch TV today.
— Effetto notte (1973)
Il poliziotto guardava Tom con sospetto.
The policeman looked at Tom suspiciously.
Il vecchio guardava il tramonto dal balcone come faceva da cinquant'anni.
The old man watched the sunset from the balcony as he had done for fifty years.
A parte Tom, la famiglia guardava la TV in silenzio.
Except for Tom, the family watched TV in silence.
Io guardavo l'animale e l'animale guardava me.
I was looking at the animal, and the animal was looking at me.
Guardava la montagna, però aveva una cipolla in mano.
He was looking at the mountain, but he was holding an onion.
— Il postino (1994)
E la Principessa lo guardava sempre.
And the Princess was always looking at him.
— Nuovo Cinema Paradiso (1988)
Il malato guardava sempre il ragazzo.
The patient kept looking at the boy.