loro stessero

were

ˈs t e s . s e . r o → stare

stess be; stay + ero they imperfect subjunctive

auxiliary · third plural · imperfect subjunctive Rare #28,914

were Imperfetto congiuntivo (subjunctive imperfect) of "stare", used after expressions of doubt, desire, or necessity; often corresponds to English "were" in hypothetical or reported contexts.

IT: Dubito che stessero a casa ieri sera.

EN: I doubt they were at home last night.

Conjugation of stare

Subjunctive imperfect

	Singular	Plural
Third	stesse	stessero

stessi

Penso che Tom e Mary stessero parlando in francese.

I think Tom and Mary were speaking French.

Pensavo mi stessero già arrestando.

I thought they were already arresting me.

— Quei bravi ragazzi (1990)

Non penso che Tom e Mary si stessero nascondendo.

I don't think Tom and Mary were hiding.

Sembrava che stessero discutendo di una questione di grande importanza.

It seemed like they were discussing a matter of great importance.

Io non pensavo che Tom e Mary stessero dormendo.

I didn’t think Tom and Mary were sleeping.

Io ho sempre avuto la sensazione che Tom e Mary stessero nascondendo qualcosa.

I always had the feeling that Tom and Mary were hiding something.

Non avevo idea che Tom e Mary ci stessero mentendo.

I had no idea Tom and Mary were lying to us.

Sembrava che loro stessero discutendo di una questione di grande importanza.

It seemed like they were discussing a matter of great importance.

Immagino che stessero tutti mentendo.

I guess they were all lying.