was (used with a gerund to describe an ongoing past action), was about to (used with per + infinitive), was, stayed, was feeling (unwell)
Mentre mangiava una pizza, stava infastidendo sua sorella.
While eating a pizza, he was annoying his sister.
Il piano di Matthew stava funzionando.
Matthew's plan was working.
Mi disse che stava studiando il francese.
He told me he was studying French.
Sami stava ballando in spiaggia.
Sami was dancing on the beach.
Qualcuno stava preparando il tè!
Someone was making tea!
— Arrietty - Il mondo segreto sotto il pavimento (2010)
Stava tranquillo nel suo angolo senza dare problemi a nessuno.
He sat quietly in his corner without causing problems to anyone.
Mi hai detto che R & R ti stava mandando a Barcellona.
You told me R&R was sending you to Barcelona.
— People we meet on vacation - Un amore in vacanza (2026)
Tom ci stava per aiutare.
Tom was going to help us.
Tom stava dicendo la verità?
Was Tom telling the truth?
Sami stava chiamando la sicurezza.
Sami was calling security.
Tom stava morendo dalla voglia di conoscere Mary.
Tom was dying to meet Mary.
Stava decidendo della vita di suo figlio davanti a noi.
He was deciding about his son's life in front of us.
— Tropa de elite 2 - Il nemico ora è un altro (2010)
Salvò il bambino che stava annegando a costo della sua stessa vita.
He saved the drowning child at the cost of his own life.
L'industria stava crescendo rapidamente.
The industry was growing rapidly.
Tom non stava prestando attenzione.
Tom wasn't paying attention.
Tom stava firmando autografi di fronte al teatro.
Tom was signing autographs in front of the theater.
Vi guardavo dalla finestra mentre lui ti stava dando l'addio.
I was watching you from the window while he was saying goodbye to you.
— Picnic (1955)
L'ultima volta che ho visto Mary, stava zoppicando.
The last time I saw Mary, she was limping.
Anche il Governatore stava raccogliendo i frutti del mio lavoro.
Even the Governor was reaping the fruits of my labor.
— Tropa de elite 2 - Il nemico ora è un altro (2010)
Tom non stava traslocando.
Tom wasn't moving.
She was trying on some clothes.
Tom sapeva che stava venendo insultato.
Tom knew he was being insulted.
Nessuno le stava prestando attenzione.
Nobody was paying attention to her.
Tom non ha riconosciuto la canzone che stava cantando Mary.
Tom didn’t recognize the song Mary was singing.
Stava schiacciando delle patate.
He was mashing some potatoes.
Non so cosa stia succedendo, ma la signorina Tamayo stava trattenendo Muzan.
I don't know what's going on, but Miss Tamayo was holding Muzan back.
— Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Il Castello dell’Infinito (2025)
Tom stava proteggendo Mary.
Tom was protecting Mary.
It was working.
Mary realizzò che stava per morire.
Mary realized she was going to die.
La nave stava trasportando molti passeggeri a bordo.
The ship was carrying many passengers on board.
Tom sapeva che Mary stava tenendo una festa.
Tom knew that Mary was having a party.
Stava semplicemente facendo il suo lavoro.
He was just doing his job.
Tom stava ancora indossando il suo costume.
Tom was still wearing his costume.
Tom ha detto che non stava più lavorando a Boston.
Tom said that he was no longer working in Boston.
Quella persona non è un nemico, ci stava gridando qualcosa.
That person is not an enemy, he was shouting something at us.
— Nausicaä della Valle del vento (1984)
Il comitato stava discutendo il problema.
The committee was discussing the problem.
Mary ha detto che stava tornando a casa.
Mary said she was going home.
Disse che qualche lontano parente le stava dando problemi.
She said that some distant relative was giving her trouble.
Tom stava balbettando.
Tom was stuttering.
Damiano stava utilizzando il Wi-Fi pubblico.
Damiano was using public Wi-Fi.
Eri consapevole di ciò che stava accadendo.
You were aware of what was happening.
My mind was racing.
Sami stava uscendo con una ragazza egiziana.
Sami was dating an Egyptian girl.
Il poliziotto stava controllando le auto una ad una.
The policeman was checking the cars one by one.
Tom stava trasportando una borsa.
Tom was carrying a bag.
Mary disse che non stava più lavorando a Boston.
Mary said that she was no longer working in Boston.
La banda stava progettando una rapina.
The gang was planning a robbery.
Mio marito ci stava raccontando una barzelletta.
My husband was telling us a joke.
— Tre colori - Film blu (1993)
Tom non stava imbrogliando.
Tom wasn't cheating.
Tom non riusciva a sentire quello che stava venendo detto.
Tom couldn't hear what was being said.
Si è coperta la testa con il velo e stava recitando qualcosa.
She covered her head with the veil and was reciting something.
— Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015)
Tom stava viaggiando da solo.
Tom was traveling alone.
Qualcuno stava chiamando il mio nome.
Someone was calling my name.
Tom stava cominciando a perdere la speranza.
Tom was beginning to lose hope.
Antonio stava pulendo il castello.
Antonio was cleaning the castle.
He told me he was coming back.
Sami stava cantando nella chiesa.
Sami was singing in the church.
Tom stava masticando uno stuzzicadenti.
Tom was chewing on a toothpick.
Vostra sorella stava chiedendo di voi.
Your sister was asking about you.
Stava uscendo dell'acqua dal tubo danneggiato.
Water was leaking from the damaged pipe.
Sapere che la sua testa stava volando sopra di lei, nello spazio.
Knowing that her head was flying above her, in space.
— It's Such a Beautiful Day (2012)
L'insegnante ci stava minacciando.
The teacher was threatening us.
Was he telling the truth?
Stava preparando la valigia per il viaggio del giorno dopo.
He was packing his suitcase for the next day's trip.
Stava affilando il suo coltello.
He was sharpening his knife.
Tom fu ucciso dal marito della donna con cui stava uscendo.
Tom was killed by the husband of the woman he was dating.
Tom stava pensando a tutti i crimini che Mary aveva commesso.
Tom was thinking about all the crimes Mary had committed.
Stava diventando buio e non avevamo ancora trovato il sentiero giusto.
It was getting dark and we still hadn't found the right path.
Tom stava giusto parlando di voi.
Tom was just talking about you.
He was bleeding.
Vladimir stava masticando come una mucca.
Vladimir was chewing like a cow.
Nobody was smiling.
Lei stava imitando le varie persone nel nostro ufficio.
She was imitating various people in our office.
Sami stava pregando in una moschea.
Sami was praying in a mosque.
Tom stava provando ad ucciderle.
Tom was trying to kill them.
Tom non voleva disturbare Mary mentre stava studiando.
Tom didn't want to disturb Mary while she was studying.
La distribuzione dei premi stava per cominciare.
The award ceremony was about to begin.
Mi disse che non stava ritornando.
He told me he wasn’t coming back.
La batteria non stava più funzionando.
The battery was no longer working.
Stava pensando a lei quando all'improvviso ha ricevuto il suo messaggio.
He was thinking about her when suddenly he received her message.
Tom stava lanciando delle pietre al mio cane.
Tom was throwing rocks at my dog.
Sami stava viaggiando.
Sami was traveling.
Tom stava trovando difficile concentrarsi.
Tom was finding it difficult to concentrate.
Who was he protecting?
Quanto ti ho trascinato via dalla festa, Fabio ti stava tenendo un cane davanti.
When I dragged you away from the party, Fabio was holding a dog in front of you.
— The Way He Looks (2014)
Perché Tom stava abbracciando Mary?
Why was Tom hugging Mary?
Tom stava contribuendo.
Tom was contributing.
Tom stava mettendo della roba in una scatola.
Tom was putting some stuff into a box.
Lui stava passeggiando verso il mare.
He was walking towards the sea.
Layla stava ritornando al Cairo.
Layla was returning to Cairo.
Tom non stava prestando attenzione al professore.
Tom wasn't paying attention to the teacher.
Tom stava festeggiando.
Tom was celebrating.
Tom non stava sorridendo quando è entrato nella stanza.
Tom wasn't smiling when he entered the room.
Tom stava giocando a tennis stamattina.
Tom was playing tennis this morning.
Trovare merci da scambiare con Rubricum stava diventando un problema.
Finding goods to trade with Rubricum was becoming a problem.
Dall'inferno che ci stava distruggendo.
From the hell that was destroying us.
— Lo Hobbit: La desolazione di Smaug (2013)
La mia vita stava girando a vuoto in tutte le direzioni.
My life was spinning in all directions.
— Return to Silent Hill (2026)
Tom disse a Mary che stava perdendo tempo.
Tom told Mary she was wasting her time.
Procurarsi tela da vele stava diventando un problema serio.
Getting hold of sailcloth was becoming a serious problem.
Michael stava trasportando la borsa di Linda.
Michael was carrying Linda's bag.
Tom stava pranzando con Mary quella volta.
Tom was having lunch with Mary that time.
Stava fumando una sigaretta sul balcone quando ha visto l'incidente in strada.
He was smoking a cigarette on the balcony when he saw the accident on the street.
Il personale della cucina se lo stava chiedendo.
The kitchen staff was wondering.
— Laurence Anyways e il desiderio di una donna... (2012)
He was stuttering.
Tom stava ancora cantando quando me ne sono andato.
Tom was still singing when I left.
Sami stava provando ad imparare l'arabo.
Sami was trying to learn Arabic.
Mary stava soltanto facendo il suo dovere.
Mary was just doing her duty.
Il cane stava abbaiando tutta la notte e i vicini si sono lamentati.
The dog was barking all night and the neighbors complained.
Tom stava sognando a occhi aperti.
Tom was daydreaming.
Tom ha annunciato che stava lasciando il calcio.
Tom announced he was retiring from football.
Mary ha detto che non stava tornando.
Mary said she wasn't coming back.
Mary ha detto a Tom che lo stava per fare.
Mary told Tom that she was about to do it.
Aveva lo sguardo bianco, vuoto, come se non capisse nulla di quello che stava succedendo.
His gaze was blank and empty, as if he didn't understand anything about what was happening.
Tom stava sussurrando.
Tom was whispering.
Stava soltanto facendo il suo dovere.
He was just doing his duty.
His dog was barking.
Donald stava studiando in biblioteca.
Donald was studying in the library.
Fadil stava sempre sorridendo.
Fadil was always smiling.
Rima stava danzando sulla spiaggia.
Rima was dancing on the beach.
Ha detto che stava tornando a casa.
He said he was going home.
— Un giorno di ordinaria follia (1993)
Lui stava affilando un coltello.
He was sharpening a knife.
Mi disse che stava tornando indietro.
He told me he was going back.
Was he chasing butterflies?
Lui stava imparando una poesia.
He was learning a poem.
Stava trasportando un pacco che sosteneva fosse crack.
He was carrying a package that he claimed was crack cocaine.
— I Swear (2025)
Mi ha detto che stava tornando indietro.
He told me he was going back.
Sapevo che Layla stava dicendo la verità.
I knew Layla was telling the truth.
Stava correndo sulla testa di un pesce.
He was running on the head of a fish.
— Ponyo sulla scogliera (2008)
Tom si tagliò accidentalmente mentre stava sbucciando una mela.
Tom accidentally cut himself while peeling an apple.
Stava pianificando qualcosa di speciale?
Was he planning something special?
Sami stava chiamando la sua gatta.
Sami was calling his cat.
Tom stava morendo dalla voglia di incontrare Mary.
Tom was dying to meet Mary.
Lui stava tenendo un discorso al parco.
He was giving a speech in the park.
Stava del mangiando cibo spazzatura.
He was eating junk food.
Tom non stava sbadigliando.
Tom wasn't yawning.
He was praying in the mosque.
Stava accordando la sua chitarra.
He was tuning his guitar.
Signor Dubey, il Direttore stava chiedendo di Lei.
Mr. Dubey, the Director was asking for you.
— 3 Idiots (2009)
Tom stava pensando a Mary.
Tom was thinking about Mary.
Lo sapevo che ti stava succedendo qualcosa!
I knew something was happening to you!
— La Forma della Voce (2016)
Tom non stava viaggiando.
Tom wasn't traveling.
L'ho presa in casa perché stava male.
I took her in because she was sick.
— Tutto su mia madre (1999)
Stava comodo sul divano con la coperta e un buon libro da leggere.
He was comfortable on the sofa with a blanket and a good book to read.
Mi stava davanti e l'ho spinta.
She was standing in front of me, and I pushed her.
— I guardiani della notte (2004)
Non è vero non ci stava nessuno su!
That's not true; there was nobody up there!
— Roma città aperta (1945)
Stava a casa tutto il giorno senza fare niente di produttivo.
He stayed at home all day doing nothing productive.
Stava dietro la porta ad ascoltare la conversazione di nascosto.
He was standing behind the door, eavesdropping on the conversation.
Ho pensato di fare un salto per vedere se stava meglio.
I thought I’d drop by to see if he was feeling better.
— Love Actually - L'amore davvero (2003)
Il vecchio stava sulla panchina del parco a dare il pane ai piccioni.
The old man was sitting on the park bench feeding bread to the pigeons.
L'uomo che cercavi era troppo vicino, stava di fronte a te.
The man you were looking for was too close; he was standing right in front of you.
— La fiamma del peccato (1944)
Ti ricordi che la casa di Hae-mi stava vicino al centro del villaggio.
You remember that Hae-mi's house was near the center of the village.
— Burning - L'amore brucia (2018)
Kate stava stesa, con gli occhi aperti.
Kate was lying there, her eyes open.
Se ne stava qui ad ascoltare musica, evitando di venire a letto con me.
He was just sitting here listening to music, avoiding coming to bed with me.
— No Other Choice - Non c'è altra scelta (2025)
È vero che stava per avere un bambino?
Is it true that she was having a baby?
— Rebecca - La prima moglie (1940)
Primo, quel tizio che stava con Nakamura.
First, that guy who was with Nakamura.
— Ghost in the Shell (1995)
Stava in piedi per ore al mercato a vendere la frutta.
He stood for hours at the market selling fruit.
Come sapevi che era di qualcuno che stava con me?
How did you know it belonged to someone who was with me?
— Il suono intorno (2012)
Ho aiutato Tom anche se stava occupato.
I helped Tom even though he was busy.
Quando sono rientrato stava qui.
When I came back it was here.
— Pixote, la legge del più debole (1980)
Considerando lo stato nel quale il figlio stava.
Considering the state the son was in.
— Pixote, la legge del più debole (1980)
Non era alto, ma se ne stava diritto come la sua torre.
He wasn’t tall, but he stood as straight as his tower.
Sono andata da McRyan, gli ho detto che l'ammiravo e lui non stava nella pelle.
I went to McRyan, told him I admired him, and he was over the moon.
— Blow Out (1981)
Il cane stava buono nella cuccia e non dava fastidio a nessuno.
The dog was good in the kennel and didn't bother anyone.
Stava benissimo e non aveva preoccupazioni finanziarie.
He was doing very well and had no financial worries.
— La fiamma del peccato (1944)
Pensate, Canova stava quasi per sposare mia madre!
Just think, Canova was almost about to marry my mother!
— Arca Russa (2002)
Ha detto che stava male perché mia madre si era spenta così.
He said he felt awful because my mother had passed away like that.
— Decision to Leave (2022)
He was standing above a trapdoor.
— Harry Potter e la pietra filosofale (2001)
La bambina stava seduta sul gradino a guardare le formiche per terra.
The little girl sat on the step watching the ants on the ground.
Chi era quell'uomo e che stava a fare davanti al mio ufficio?
Who was that man, and what was he doing in front of my office?
— Contrattempo (2017)
Che ci stava a fare quassù senza pianoforte?
What was he doing up here without a piano?
— La leggenda del pianista sull'oceano (1998)
Tutto stava al suo posto prima che arrivassero gli ospiti rumorosi.
Everything was in its place before the noisy guests arrived.
Stava lì impalato senza sapere cosa dire o come reagire alla notizia.
He stood there, not knowing what to say or how to react to the news.
Non stava molto bene ed è andata via prima.
She wasn't feeling very well and left early.
— Psyco (1960)
E suo padre se ne stava in disparte, triste e silenzioso.
And his father stood aside, sad and silent.
— Lo specchio (1975)
Stava zitto perché sapeva di aver sbagliato e non aveva scuse.
He kept quiet because he knew he was wrong and had no excuse.
Stava disteso sul letto a guardare il soffitto senza pensare a niente.
He was lying on the bed looking at the ceiling without thinking about anything.
Stava male quel giorno ma non voleva dirlo a nessuno.
He was feeling sick that day but didn't want to tell anyone.
La donna che stava con il tipo giapponese!
The woman who was with the Japanese guy!
— Goksung - La presenza del diavolo (2016)
Stava meglio prima di trasferirsi nella grande città caotica e rumorosa.
He was better before moving to the big, chaotic, noisy city.
Il che vuol dire che non stava lì per caso.
Which means he wasn’t there by chance.
— Harry Potter e la pietra filosofale (2001)
Sandra stava con te mentre io ero qui a sgobbare e a sudare, capito?
Sandra was with you while I was here working hard and sweating, you understand?
— È arrivata mia figlia! (2015)
No, stava male da parecchio, per lei è stata una liberazione.
No, she had been sick for a long time, for her it was a relief.
— Effetto notte (1973)
Plummerville stava benone prima che arrivassi.
Plummerville was doing fine before I arrived.
— Io sono nessuno 2 (2025)
Stava in quel posto da anni e non aveva intenzione di andarsene.
He had been in that place for years and had no intention of leaving.
Con Laura, si stava insieme da qualche mese.
He and Laura had been together for a few months.
— Contrattempo (2017)
Voleva vedere come stava con il lutto.
He wanted to see how she was coping with grief.
— La fiamma del peccato (1944)
Il Comitato vorrà sapere da che parte stava.
The Committee will want to know which side you were on.
— Oppenheimer (2023)
Stava al balcone a guardare il tramonto sul mare ogni sera.
He stood on the balcony watching the sunset over the sea every evening.
Stella stava in collegio con me.
Stella was at boarding school with me.
— Oh Boy - Un caffè a Berlino (2012)
Stava attento a ogni rumore nella casa vuota durante la notte.
He was attentive to every noise in the empty house during the night.
Sapete cos'è successo mentre stava sul Monte Bianco?
Do you know what happened while he was on Mont Blanc?
— Il favoloso mondo di Amélie (2001)
Ha cominciato a lavorare per noi mentre stava in carcere.
He started working for us while he was in prison.
— Il segreto dei suoi occhi (2009)
Volevamo provare che lui stava dietro alla morte di Krypton.
We wanted to prove that he was behind the death of Krypton.
— Who Am I - No System Is Safe (2014)
Gran parte del costo stava nella composizione dei caratteri.
Much of the cost went into typesetting.