Yap.Town

lui teneva

held, was holding; kept, was keeping, cared (about)

→ tenere
ten to keep, to hold + eva third-person singular imperfect
verb · 3rd-person singular, imperfect tense Uncommon #9,764
held, was holding; kept, was keeping The subject is he, she, or it, or a formal you.
IT: Teneva la porta aperta.
EN: He or she kept the door open.
cared (about) Used with ci and a; for example, ci teneva a qualcosa means “he or she cared about something.”
IT: Ci teneva molto alla sua famiglia.
EN: He or she cared a lot about their family.
Conjugation of tenere
Indicative imperfect
SingularPlural
First tenevo —
Second tenevi —
Third teneva —

Ci teneva a dirmelo subito.

He/She wanted to tell me right away.

— È stata la mano di Dio (2021)

La teneva per mano come se fosse una bambina.

He held her hand as if she were a child.

Io sedevo composta a prua della lancia, mentre Rudolph teneva il timone.

I sat upright in the bow of the launch while Rudolph held the helm.

Sapevo che li teneva nascosti da qualche parte.

I knew he was keeping them hidden somewhere.

— Un affare di famiglia (2018)

So che lei ci teneva moltissimo.

I know she cared a lot about it.

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

Il lavoro di Mary la teneva impegnata.

Mary's work kept her busy.

L'uomo teneva per mano un ragazzo.

The man was holding a boy's hand.

La madre si mise una mano sugli occhi, il padre teneva il mento sul petto.

The mother put a hand over her eyes, while the father held his chin to his chest.

Ci teneva molto.

He/She cared a lot about it.

— C'era una volta il West (1968)

Mi teneva troppo stretta per potermi muovere.

He held me too tight for me to move.

C'è un uomo che mi teneva in ostaggio.

There’s a man who was holding me hostage.

— Bullet Train (2022)

Infatti Diego lo teneva sempre spento.

In fact, Diego always kept it turned off.

— Perfetti sconosciuti (2016)

Quello stronzo mi teneva sopra le sue gambe.

That asshole held me over his lap.

— Anora (2024)

Non teneva la bocca chiusa.

He couldn't keep his mouth shut.

— Peaky Blinders - The Immortal Man (2026)

Lui teneva stretto in mano il portafoglio.

He was clutching his wallet tightly in his hand.

La teneva aperta?

Did he keep it open?

— Anatomia di una caduta (2023)

Lei teneva vari tipi di animali domestici.

She kept various types of pets.

Lena era al banco e teneva d’occhio con attenzione quanto aveva bevuto ciascuno.

Lena was at the bar, carefully keeping track of how much everyone had drunk.

Mentre la teneva.

While he held her.

— It's Such a Beautiful Day (2012)

Ci teneva a finire il suo lavoro.

He was keen to finish his work.

La teneva stretta al petto.

He held her close to his chest.

Mi teneva il muso.

He was sulking at me.

E Votini che si teneva sicuro della prima medaglia!

And Votini, who was sure he’d win the first medal!

Tom teneva una penna tra le mani.

Tom held a pen in his hands.

Lui teneva forte in mano il portafoglio.

He was holding the wallet tightly in his hand.

Se lo teneva vicino al letto.

He kept it near his bed.

— Die My Love (2025)

Teneva un pacco sotto il braccio.

He was holding a package under his arm.

Piangeva e teneva suo padre stretto al collo con tutt'e due le braccia.

She was crying and clinging to her father around the neck with both arms.

Lui le teneva stretta la mano mentre loro lavoravano.

He held her hand tightly as they worked.

Ma c’era questo carillon che la teneva addormentata.

But there was this music box that kept her asleep.

— Five Nights at Freddy's 2 (2025)

Signor Yuan, Huo Yi vi teneva prigioniero su un'isola.

Mr. Yuan, Huo Yi was holding you prisoner on an island.

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

Lui ci teneva a finire il suo lavoro.

He was keen to finish his work.

Il Ritalin ci teneva svegli.

Ritalin kept us awake.

— Who Am I - No System Is Safe (2014)