was, stayed, remained, was located, was situated
Fui perguntar na recepção onde ficava a sala.
I went to ask at reception where the room was located.
A porra de uma faca que não ficava cega nem após cortar tijolo.
A fucking knife that wouldn't go dull even after cutting through brick.
— O Poço (2019)
No meu caso, limpar a casa, que aos poucos ficava cada vez melhor.
In my case, it was cleaning the house, which was gradually getting better and better.
Disse a mim mesma que ficava feliz por ter perguntado, porque agora eu sabia.
I told myself I was glad I’d asked, because now I knew.
Eu vivia no mundo da lua, dificilmente estava em casa, ficava fora a noite toda.
I lived in a world of my own, I was hardly ever home, I would stay out all night.
— O Hospedeiro (2006)
Virgulino era grande, mas também ficava pequeno.
Virgulino was big, but he could also become small.
— Deus e o Diabo na Terra do Sol (1964)
Tom não sabia onde ficava a biblioteca.
Tom didn't know where the library was.
Tom ficava prestando atenção.
Tom kept paying attention.
Não fazia outra coisa, só ficava estudando.
He did nothing else but study.
— Que Horas Ela Volta? (2015)
Eu ficava chamando você no meu coração.
I kept calling out to you in my heart.
— As Memórias de Marnie (2014)