“Lavorare,” meaning “to work” in Italian, is an essential verb to master for anyone learning the language. Understanding its conjugation is crucial for expressing yourself accurately and confidently in various tenses and moods. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the conjugation of “lavorare” in all its forms, providing examples and context to solidify your understanding.
Understanding the Basics of Italian Verb Conjugation
Italian verbs are categorized into three conjugations based on their infinitive endings: -are, -ere, and -ire. “Lavorare” belongs to the first conjugation, the -are verbs. This classification dictates the patterns used to form different tenses and moods.
The infinitive form of a verb (e.g., “lavorare”) is its most basic form. To conjugate a verb, we remove the infinitive ending (-are in this case) to find the verb stem. The stem is then combined with specific endings that indicate the tense, mood, and person (who is performing the action).
Identifying the Verb Stem: For “lavorare,” the verb stem is “lavor-“. This stem remains consistent across most conjugations, although some irregular verbs may have stem variations.
Conjugating “Lavorare” in the Indicative Mood
The indicative mood is used to express factual statements or certainties. It’s the most commonly used mood in everyday conversation. Let’s explore the conjugation of “lavorare” in various indicative tenses.
Present Tense (Presente)
The present tense describes actions happening now or habitual actions.
- Io lavoro (I work)
- Tu lavori (You work – singular, informal)
- Lui/Lei/Lei lavora (He/She/It works; You work – singular, formal)
- Noi lavoriamo (We work)
- Voi lavorate (You work – plural)
- Loro lavorano (They work)
Example: “Io lavoro in un ufficio.” (I work in an office.)
Past Imperfect Tense (Imperfetto)
The past imperfect tense describes ongoing or habitual actions in the past. It often conveys a sense of “used to” or “was/were -ing.”
- Io lavoravo (I was working/used to work)
- Tu lavoravi (You were working/used to work)
- Lui/Lei/Lei lavorava (He/She/It was working/used to work)
- Noi lavoravamo (We were working/used to work)
- Voi lavoravate (You were working/used to work)
- Loro lavoravano (They were working/used to work)
Example: “Quando ero giovane, lavoravo in un ristorante.” (When I was young, I used to work in a restaurant.)
Past Historic Tense (Passato Remoto)
The past historic tense is used to describe completed actions in the distant past. While it’s less common in spoken Italian, it’s prevalent in literature and formal writing, particularly in Southern Italy.
- Io lavorai (I worked)
- Tu lavorasti (You worked)
- Lui/Lei/Lei lavorò (He/She/It worked)
- Noi lavorammo (We worked)
- Voi lavoraste (You worked)
- Loro lavorarono (They worked)
Example: “Michelangelo lavorò alla Cappella Sistina per anni.” (Michelangelo worked on the Sistine Chapel for years.)
Near Future Tense (Futuro Semplice)
The near future tense expresses actions that will happen in the future.
- Io lavorerò (I will work)
- Tu lavorerai (You will work)
- Lui/Lei/Lei lavorerà (He/She/It will work)
- Noi lavoreremo (We will work)
- Voi lavorerete (You will work)
- Loro lavoreranno (They will work)
Example: “Domani lavorerò fino a tardi.” (Tomorrow I will work until late.)
Compound Tenses: Passato Prossimo, Trapassato Prossimo, Futuro Anteriore, Trapassato Remoto
Compound tenses are formed using an auxiliary verb (either “avere” – to have, or “essere” – to be) and the past participle of the main verb. For “lavorare,” we use the auxiliary verb “avere.” The past participle of “lavorare” is “lavorato.”
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Passato Prossimo (Present Perfect): Describes actions completed in the recent past or actions that have a relevance to the present.
- Io ho lavorato (I have worked)
- Tu hai lavorato (You have worked)
- Lui/Lei/Lei ha lavorato (He/She/It has worked)
- Noi abbiamo lavorato (We have worked)
- Voi avete lavorato (You have worked)
- Loro hanno lavorato (They have worked)
Example: “Ho lavorato molto oggi.” (I have worked a lot today.)
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Trapassato Prossimo (Past Perfect): Describes an action that was completed before another action in the past.
- Io avevo lavorato (I had worked)
- Tu avevi lavorato (You had worked)
- Lui/Lei/Lei aveva lavorato (He/She/It had worked)
- Noi avevamo lavorato (We had worked)
- Voi avevate lavorato (You had worked)
- Loro avevano lavorato (They had worked)
Example: “Quando sono arrivato, lui aveva già lavorato per ore.” (When I arrived, he had already worked for hours.)
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Futuro Anteriore (Future Perfect): Describes an action that will be completed before another action in the future.
- Io avrò lavorato (I will have worked)
- Tu avrai lavorato (You will have worked)
- Lui/Lei/Lei avrà lavorato (He/She/It will have worked)
- Noi avremo lavorato (We will have worked)
- Voi avrete lavorato (You will have worked)
- Loro avranno lavorato (They will have worked)
Example: “Quando arriverai, avrò già lavorato tutto il giorno.” (When you arrive, I will have already worked all day.)
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Trapassato Remoto (Past Anterior): Describes an action completed before another action in the distant past (used with Passato Remoto).
- Io ebbi lavorato (I had worked)
- Tu avesti lavorato (You had worked)
- Lui/Lei/Lei ebbe lavorato (He/She/It had worked)
- Noi avemmo lavorato (We had worked)
- Voi aveste lavorato (You had worked)
- Loro ebbero lavorato (They had worked)
Example: “Dopo che ebbe lavorato sodo, si riposò.” (After he had worked hard, he rested.)
Conjugating “Lavorare” in the Subjunctive Mood (Congiuntivo)
The subjunctive mood expresses doubt, possibility, desire, emotion, or uncertainty. It is often used in subordinate clauses after verbs expressing these sentiments.
Present Subjunctive (Congiuntivo Presente)
- Che io lavori (That I work)
- Che tu lavori (That you work)
- Che lui/lei/Lei lavori (That he/she/it works)
- Che noi lavoriamo (That we work)
- Che voi lavoriate (That you work)
- Che loro lavorino (That they work)
Example: “È importante che tu lavori sodo.” (It’s important that you work hard.)
Past Imperfect Subjunctive (Congiuntivo Imperfetto)
- Che io lavorassi (That I were working/used to work)
- Che tu lavorassi (That you were working/used to work)
- Che lui/lei/Lei lavorasse (That he/she/it were working/used to work)
- Che noi lavorassimo (That we were working/used to work)
- Che voi lavoraste (That you were working/used to work)
- Che loro lavorassero (That they were working/used to work)
Example: “Vorrei che tu lavorassi con me.” (I wish you were working with me.)
Compound Subjunctive Tenses: Passato Congiuntivo, Trapassato Congiuntivo
These tenses are formed with the auxiliary verb “avere” (in the subjunctive mood) and the past participle “lavorato.”
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Passato Congiuntivo (Present Perfect Subjunctive):
- Che io abbia lavorato (That I have worked)
- Che tu abbia lavorato (That you have worked)
- Che lui/lei/Lei abbia lavorato (That he/she/it has worked)
- Che noi abbiamo lavorato (That we have worked)
- Che voi abbiate lavorato (That you have worked)
- Che loro abbiano lavorato (That they have worked)
Example: “Dubito che lui abbia lavorato così tanto.” (I doubt that he has worked so much.)
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Trapassato Congiuntivo (Past Perfect Subjunctive):
- Che io avessi lavorato (That I had worked)
- Che tu avessi lavorato (That you had worked)
- Che lui/lei/Lei avesse lavorato (That he/she/it had worked)
- Che noi avessimo lavorato (That we had worked)
- Che voi aveste lavorato (That you had worked)
- Che loro avessero lavorato (That they had worked)
Example: “Sarei stato felice se tu avessi lavorato con me.” (I would have been happy if you had worked with me.)
Conjugating “Lavorare” in the Conditional Mood (Condizionale)
The conditional mood expresses what would happen under certain conditions.
Present Conditional (Condizionale Presente)
- Io lavorerei (I would work)
- Tu lavoreresti (You would work)
- Lui/Lei/Lei lavorerebbe (He/She/It would work)
- Noi lavoreremmo (We would work)
- Voi lavorereste (You would work)
- Loro lavorerebbero (They would work)
Example: “Lavorerei di più se fossi pagato meglio.” (I would work more if I were paid better.)
Past Conditional (Condizionale Passato)
Formed with the conditional of “avere” and the past participle “lavorato.”
- Io avrei lavorato (I would have worked)
- Tu avresti lavorato (You would have worked)
- Lui/Lei/Lei avrebbe lavorato (He/She/It would have worked)
- Noi avremmo lavorato (We would have worked)
- Voi avreste lavorato (You would have worked)
- Loro avrebbero lavorato (They would have worked)
Example: “Avrei lavorato di più se avessi avuto più tempo.” (I would have worked more if I had had more time.)
The Imperative Mood (Imperativo)
The imperative mood is used to give commands or make requests. It only has forms for “tu,” “noi,” “voi,” and the formal “Lei.”
- Lavora (You work – singular, informal)
- Lavori (You work – singular, formal)
- Lavoriamo (Let’s work)
- Lavorate (You work – plural)
Example: “Lavora sodo e avrai successo!” (Work hard and you will succeed!)
Non-Finite Forms of “Lavorare”
These forms do not indicate person or number and are used in specific grammatical constructions.
- Infinitive: Lavorare (to work)
- Past Participle: Lavorato (worked)
- Gerund: Lavorando (working)
Examples:
- “È importante lavorare sodo.” (It’s important to work hard – infinitive)
- “Ho lavorato tutto il giorno.” (I have worked all day – past participle)
- “Stavo lavorando quando è arrivato.” (I was working when he arrived – gerund)
Understanding the conjugation of “lavorare” in all its forms is a crucial step towards fluency in Italian. Consistent practice and exposure to the language will further solidify your understanding and ability to use this essential verb with confidence. Remember to focus on context and meaning when choosing the appropriate tense and mood. Buon lavoro! (Good work!)
What is the infinitive form of the verb “lavorare” and what does it mean?
The infinitive form of the verb is “lavorare.” This is the base form of the verb before any conjugation takes place, and it’s how you’ll find it listed in dictionaries. It’s easily identifiable by the “-are” ending, typical of many Italian verbs.
“Lavorare” directly translates to “to work” in English. It encompasses the general action of performing labor, whether it’s physical, mental, or creative. The verb is fundamental in Italian, used in various contexts related to jobs, tasks, and activities.
How do you conjugate “lavorare” in the present tense (presente indicativo)?
The present tense of “lavorare” describes actions happening right now or habitual actions. Here’s the conjugation: io lavoro (I work), tu lavori (you work – singular, informal), lui/lei/Lei lavora (he/she/formal you works), noi lavoriamo (we work), voi lavorate (you work – plural or formal singular), loro lavorano (they work).
Remember to pay attention to pronoun usage, as it influences the verb ending. Using the correct pronoun and verb ending is essential for clear and grammatically correct communication in Italian. Practice with sentences to solidify your understanding.
Can you provide an example of “lavorare” used in the past tense (passato prossimo)?
The “passato prossimo” is a compound past tense formed with the auxiliary verb (“avere”) and the past participle. For “lavorare,” the past participle is “lavorato.” Therefore, “I worked” in the “passato prossimo” is “io ho lavorato.” The auxiliary verb “avere” is conjugated according to the subject.
Other examples include: “tu hai lavorato” (you worked), “lui/lei/Lei ha lavorato” (he/she/formal you worked), “noi abbiamo lavorato” (we worked), “voi avete lavorato” (you worked), and “loro hanno lavorato” (they worked). This tense is commonly used for completed actions in the past that have relevance to the present.
How is “lavorare” conjugated in the future tense (futuro semplice)?
The “futuro semplice” describes actions that will happen in the future. To conjugate “lavorare,” you start with the infinitive, drop the “-are” ending, and add the future tense endings. Remember that irregular verbs might have stem changes but “lavorare” is regular.
The conjugation is: “io lavorerò” (I will work), “tu lavorerai” (you will work), “lui/lei/Lei lavorerà” (he/she/formal you will work), “noi lavoreremo” (we will work), “voi lavorerete” (you will work), “loro lavoreranno” (they will work). Notice the consistent endings added to the stem “lavor-.”
What is the subjunctive mood (congiuntivo) and how is “lavorare” conjugated in the present subjunctive?
The subjunctive mood expresses doubt, uncertainty, possibility, or emotion. It’s often used after verbs like “pensare che” (to think that), “credere che” (to believe that), or “volere che” (to want that). The present subjunctive of “lavorare” is: “che io lavori” (that I work), “che tu lavori” (that you work), “che lui/lei/Lei lavori” (that he/she/formal you work), “che noi lavoriamo” (that we work), “che voi lavoriate” (that you work), “che loro lavorino” (that they work).
Pay close attention to the subjunctive endings, especially in the first and second person plural, which are different from the indicative mood. Mastering the subjunctive is crucial for expressing nuanced meanings and understanding complex Italian sentences.
How is the conditional tense (condizionale) of “lavorare” formed and what does it express?
The conditional tense expresses what would happen under certain conditions or expresses a polite request. The conditional of “lavorare” is formed by dropping the “-are” from the infinitive and adding conditional endings: “-erei,” “-eresti,” “-erebbe,” “-eremmo,” “-ereste,” “-erebbero.”
Therefore, the conditional conjugation is: “io lavorerei” (I would work), “tu lavoreresti” (you would work), “lui/lei/Lei lavorerebbe” (he/she/formal you would work), “noi lavoreremmo” (we would work), “voi lavorereste” (you would work), “loro lavorerebbero” (they would work). This tense is very useful for expressing hypothetical situations and polite requests in Italian.
What is the imperative mood (imperativo) of “lavorare” and how is it used?
The imperative mood is used to give commands or make requests. It only exists for the “tu,” “noi,” “voi,” and formal “Lei” forms. For “lavorare,” the imperative for “tu” is “lavora!” (work!), for “noi” is “lavoriamo!” (let’s work!), and for “voi” is “lavorate!” (work!). The “Lei” form uses the subjunctive, so it’s “lavori!” (work!).
Note that the “tu” form drops the “i” from the indicative “tu” form, but this isn’t always the case with irregular verbs. Also, negative commands use “non” before the infinitive for “tu” and “Lei”, and before the subjunctive for “noi” and “voi.” For example, “Non lavorare!” (Don’t work!) to a friend.