lavoraste

Lavoraste is the second-person singular form of the Italian verb lavorare in the passato remoto, the simple past tense used mainly in formal writing and literature. It corresponds to the English “you worked” in a narrative past, often appearing in historical or fictional texts.

In Italian, the passato remoto differs from the more commonly used passato prossimo. The passato remoto is typically found in written language and classic literature, while the passato prossimo is preferred in everyday speech to describe past events. Because of this, forms like lavoraste are frequently perceived as literary or regional, rather than colloquial.

Conjugation and form. The passato remoto for lavorare yields: io lavorai, tu lavorasti, lui lavorò, noi lavorammo, voi lavoraste, loro lavorarono. Therefore, lavoraste specifically marks the second-person singular in this tense. It is not a progressive tense; it simply states a past action completed in the narrative time frame.

Etymology and usage notes. The verb lavorare comes from Latin laborare, related to work or toil. Lavoraste, as part of a larger system of passato remoto forms, appears in classic Italian prose and historical chronicles. In modern conversation, speakers typically replace it with forms from the passato prossimo, such as “hai lavorato,” to avoid the literary register.

Example. In a novel: “Tu lavoraste tutto il pomeriggio, senza fermarti.” Translation: “You worked all afternoon, without stopping.”