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lui tenesse

cared about, kept, held

→ tenere
ten to keep, to hold + esse Imperfect subjunctive, 3rd person singular
verb · 3rd-person singular, imperfect tense Rare #41,515
cared about Used with “a” to mean that something mattered to someone.
IT: Pensavo che tenesse molto a quel regalo.
EN: I thought that gift mattered a lot to him.
kept, held
IT: Credevo che tenesse le chiavi in cucina.
EN: I thought she kept the keys in the kitchen.
Conjugation of tenere
Subjunctive imperfect
SingularPlural
First tenessi —
Second tenessi —
Third tenesse —

Sapevo quanto lei ci tenesse.

I knew how much she cared.

— Mercy - Sotto accusa (2026)

Comincio a pensare che Borden tenesse il coltello per lei.

I'm starting to think Borden was holding the knife for her.

— Oppenheimer (2023)

Come se tenesse a qualcosa con tutto sé stesso.

As if he cared about something with all his heart.

— Your Name. (2016)

Non l'ho ancora interrogata, ho pensato che ci tenesse a farlo di persona.

I haven't questioned her yet; I thought she would want to do it in person.

— Lussuria - Seduzione e tradimento (2007)

Mi pare che il nonno ci tenesse una carpa, dentro.

I think Grandpa used to keep a carp in there.

— Un affare di famiglia (2018)