faltava

In a sentence

• Faltava només un detall per acabar el projecte.

  Only one detail was missing to complete the project.

  Here, 'faltava' is used to indicate absence or something missing. In this context, it refers to the missing detail needed to complete the project.

• Ahir faltava una persona a la reunió.

  Yesterday, one person was missing from the meeting.

  In this sentence, 'faltava' expresses the absence of an entity—in this case, a person—during an event (the meeting).

• Ell creu que encara li faltava motivació per triomfar.

  He believes he still lacked the motivation to succeed.

  This usage of 'faltava' conveys the lack or insufficient presence of abstract qualities—in this case, motivation—to achieve a goal.