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io tenevo

was holding, was keeping, cared (about)

→ tenere
ten to keep, to hold + evo io imperfect
verb · 1st-person singular, imperfect tense Rare #27,050
was holding, was keeping Imperfect tense of tenere.
IT: Tenevo il libro in mano.
EN: I was holding the book in my hand.
cared (about) In the expression ci tenevo a, it means that something mattered to you or that you cared about doing it.
IT: Ci tenevo a salutarti prima di partire.
EN: I wanted to make sure to say goodbye to you before leaving.
Conjugation of tenere
Indicative imperfect
SingularPlural
First tenevo —
Second tenevi —
Third teneva —

Tenevo a dirvelo!

I really wanted to tell you!

— La sfida del samurai (1961)

Ci tenevo a chiarire che il Bund era assolutamente rispettabile.

I wanted to make it clear that the Bund was entirely respectable.

Ne voglio un'altra, immaginaria, uguale a quella che tenevo prima.

I want another one, imaginary, just like the one I used to have.

— È stata la mano di Dio (2021)

Lei sa quanto ci tenevo a questo argomento.

You know how much I cared about this topic.

— L'onda (2008)

Non sono bravo con le parole ma ci tenevo a dirti grazie di cuore.

I'm not good with words, but I wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Tenevo le mani così.

I held my hands like this.

— Il quinto elemento (1997)

Mi tenevo dal pisciare solo per vedere la tua faccia sorpresa.

I held back from peeing just to see your surprised face.

— Mommy (2014)

Una delle persone a cui tenevo di più se n'è andata.

One of the people I cared about most is gone.

— L'uomo che venne dalla Terra (2007)

Ero turbato, tenevo ancora quella patata bollente in mano.

I was upset, I still held that hot potato in my hand.

— La fiamma del peccato (1944)

Una cosa per fortuna si è salvata, solo perché la tenevo con me.

Luckily, one thing was saved, only because I kept it with me.

— Suspiria (1977)