o que estavam fazendo

what they were doing

→ o

phrase Rare #27,148

what they were doing Used to ask about, or refer to, an action in progress in the past.

PO: Eu sei o que estavam fazendo atrás da árvore.

EN: I know what they were doing behind the tree.

Elas sabiam o que estavam fazendo.

They knew what they were doing.

O que estavam fazendo na praia?

What were they doing at the beach?

— Assunto de Família (2018)

Vocês terminaram de fazer o que estavam fazendo?

Have you finished what you were doing?

Eles sabiam o que estavam fazendo.

They knew what they were doing.

Eles pareciam saber o que estavam fazendo.

They seemed to know what they were doing.

Sei o que estavam fazendo atrás da árvore.

I know what you were doing behind the tree.

— Lagaan: A Coragem de um Povo (2001)

Pablo, o que estavam fazendo com aquela mulher?

Pablo, what were they doing with that woman?

— [REC] (2007)

O que estavam fazendo?

What were they doing?

— Assunto de Família (2018)

Sabiam o que estavam fazendo.

They knew what they were doing.

— Cães de Aluguel (1992)

O que estavam fazendo aqui?

What were they doing here?

— Служебный роман (1977)