была маленькой девочкой

was a little girl

→ быть
phrase Rare #44,953
was a little girl Used for a female subject in the past. The phrase describes her as being a young girl at that time.
RU: Когда она была маленькой девочкой, она часто играла в саду.
EN: When she was a little girl, she often played in the garden.

Когда я была маленькой девочкой, ведьма наложила на меня заклинание.

When I was a little girl, a witch cast a spell on me.

— Шрэк (2001)

Но когда была маленькой девочкой, то верила.

But when I was a little girl, I believed.

— Лабиринт Фавна (2006)