YOU SAID:
Mary had a little lamb, who was gross and dirty
INTO JAPANESE
メアリーは小さな子羊を飼っていました。
BACK INTO ENGLISH
Mary had a small lamb.
INTO JAPANESE
メアリーは小さな子羊を飼っていた。
BACK INTO ENGLISH
Mary had a small lamb.
That didn't even make that much sense in English.