Introduction to Conjunctions
This Saad Dílzin lexicon illustrates various conjunctions, words like dóó (and), doodaii (or), ndi (but), háálá (because), and others. The term we use for a word that holds constituents together is conjunction (zaatą’ii). Conjunctions combine two or more sentences, phrases, or words into a single sentence or phrase. Each conjunction has its own meaning.
This lexicon is mainly focused on coordination, but it includes other expressions that can connect two sentences (like yę́ędą́ą́’). It is sometimes difficult to distinguish conjunctions from adverbs.
Sometimes adverbs appear with conjunctions, and they influence or modify the meaning of the conjunction.
Joe and Louise are conjoined in the sentence below to make a single phrase:
The verb hataał, is intransitive, meaning that it can only have one argument:
| Joe | hataał. |
| Joe | 3-sing.CI |
| Joe is singing. | |
| *Joe | Louise | hataał. |
| Joe | Louise | 3-sing.CI |
| Joe Louise is singing. | ||
Example (3) is only grammatical if Joe Louise is the name of a particular person. If we take the two names to refer to two different people then we have to connect them with the conjunction dóó (and). This is what happens in (1). When dóó is in the middle you know there are two people.
In Navajo, more than two phrases can be conjoined, but the verb will have the plural marker da in it when three or more actors are involved in the event being described:
| Joe | dóó | Louise | dóó | Kii | dahataał. |
| Joe | and | Louise | and | Kii | pl-3-sing.CI |
| Joe, Louise, and Kii are singing. | |||||
The examples, (1) and (4), above include conjunctions of noun phrases. Other phrases can be conjoined in the same way. Here are examples with postpositional enclitic phrases:
| Tsé’áándę́ę́’ | dóó | tsédáajį’ | ninish’na’. |
| cave-from | and | cliff-to | 1-crawl.P |
| I crawled out of the cave and to the edge of the cliff. | |||
| Na’ná’á | biyaa | góne’ | dóó | báhátis | ’adiłt’oh. | |
| bridge | 3-under | below | and | 3-across | 3-3-shoot.P | |
| S/he shot them (e.g., arrows) over the bridge and under it. | ||||||
Sentences can also be coordinated, and several different conjunctions can be used:
| Kin | Łánídi | naashnish | háálá | ’áadi | shaghan. |
| Flagstaff | 1-work.I | because | there | 1-live.NI | |
| I work in Flagstaff because I live there. | |||||
| Kin | bighą́ą́’dę́ę́’ | hadah | ’adzííłhaal | ndi | t’áadoo | ’ádadénih | da. |
| house | 3-to-from | down | 1-tumble.P | but | NEG | RFLX-1-hurt.P | NEG |
| I tumbled off the housetop but I didn’t get hurt. | |||||||
The table below shows the expressions in this lexicon, except that the complementizer -go is listed in the Adverbs lexicon [link]. This list appears in Young & Morgan (1987:23-24).
| Navajo | English | Is the expression a coordinating conjunction? | categories that can be conjoined |
|---|---|---|---|
| dóó | ‘and’/‘and then’ | yes | clause, NP, PP, EP |
| ’áádóó | ‘and then’ | yes | clause |
| ’áko | ‘so, so that, so then’ | yes | clause |
| ’áko ’índa | ‘when, then’ | yes | clause |
| ’áko ndi | ‘even so, even then’ | yes | clause |
| ’áko shį́į́ | ‘then maybe/ then probably’ | yes | clause |
| ’áko shį́į́ ’índa | ‘then only’ | yes | clause |
| doodago | ‘or’ | yes | clause, NP, PP, EP? |
| doodaii’ | ‘or’ | yes | clause, NP, PP, EP? |
| -go | no | clause, NP | |
| háálá | ‘for, because’ | yes | clause |
| -ii’ | ‘and, and thereupon’ | yes | clause |
| ’índa | ‘and only then’ | no | clause |
| léi’ | ‘because’, ‘inasmuch as’ or ‘in view of the fact that’ | yes | clause |
| ndi | ‘but’ | yes | clause |
| ’azhą́…ndi | ‘even though, despite the fact that, notwithstanding’ | yes (or else ’azhą́ is an adverb and ndi is a conjunction) | clause |
| ńt’éé’ | past | maybe | clause |
| yę́ędą́ą́’ | past | no | clause |
- NP
- noun phrase
- PP
- postpositional phrase
- EP
- postpositional enclitic phrase
With coordination, two phrases have the same status. With subordination, one clause modifies the other. In this way, they are different. When there are two clauses and -go appears in the first, the two become one sentence. Then the first clause modifies the second.
| Shilééchąą’í | bił | na’nishkaadgo | jooł | bá | ’abíńjíshhałgo | yikéé’ | náádiilwo’. |
| 1-dog | 3-with | 1-herd.CI | ball | 3-for | 3-1-bat.R-GO | 3-after | 3-run.R |
| When I’m out herding with my dog I bat fly balls for him and he chases them. | |||||||
The first clause modifies the second by describing its reference time. A range of interpretations for -go is possible. In the following example, the -go clause is understood as describing the cause for the main clause:
| ’Ádihodideesht’ih | sha’shin | nisingo | t’áadoo | ’atah | haasdzíi’ | da. |
| Joe | dóó | Louise | dóó | Kii | dahataał. | |
| I didn’t say anything because I thought I might get myself into trouble. | ||||||
Examples of clauses subordinated using -go can be found in the Adverbs lexicon [link].
Some observations
Our understanding is that -go is a complementizer, sometimes called subordinating conjunction in traditional grammar (we follow Schauber 1975 [link] in concluding this).
When clauses are coordinated, a conjunction appears in place of -go. Ńt’éé’ can also take the place of -go. We take it that it can be either a conjunction or a complementizer. (Occasionally, it can appear along with -go, suggesting that it could be an adverb as well!)
Some of the expressions in this lexicon can only appear when -go appears on the first clause. These expressions are likely to be adverbs.
Concerning ’azhą́…ndi, we have already concluded that ndi is a conjunction. We could analyze ’azhą́ as an adverb, or we could consider ’azhą́…ndi to be a two-part conjunction, similar to either…or.
An example search has returned 50 entries
’Ajótł’óół laanaa nissin ndi ’aghaa’ shee ’ádin.
4-weave.O hope 3-1-want.CI but wool 3-1-with.me 3-none.NI’Azhą́ ts’aa’ nizhóní ndi ’áłts’íísí.
even.though basket 3-be.pretty.NI even.though 3-be.small.NI’Áádóó níléíjigo daaníigo t’óó ’áajigo shił dah ’adiilwod.
and.then over.there-toward pl-3-say.I-GO just that.way-toward 1-with start.off 3-drive.P’Áádóó shą’?
and.then Q’Áłtsé baa nitsídadiikos ’áko shį́į́ ’índa bik’i nidadii’nił.
first about 3-3.think.F then only 3-3pl.record.I’Ániid ’iiyą́ą́’ ’áko ndi t’ah dichin nisin.
recently 1-eat.P even then still 3-hungry 1-want.NII recently ate even then I am still hungry.
bookmark- ’ániidígo recently, not long agofind in Navajo Adverb Lexicon
- Perfective (P) (yi, ni, si, yi-∅)find in Navajo Verb Modes
- ’áko ndi even so, even then
- -t’ah in a recess, pocket or enclosed space, undercoverfind in Navajo Postposition Lexicon
- Neuter Imperfective (NI)find in Navajo Verb Modes
- nisin think, wantfind in Navajo Verb Modes
Bááh łikanígíí ła’ nisin háálá ayóo łikan.
bread 3-be.sweet.NI.NOM some 3-1-want.NI because very 3-be.sweet.NICh’aa déyá ńt’éé shichídí bikee’ dilkǫǫh.
travel 1-go past 1-vehicle 3-tires worn.Ch’iyáán ’íishłaa ’áádóó da’iidą́ą́’.
food 3-1-make.P CONJ 1Pl-eat.PChidí nahideeshnih ndi shibéeso ’ádin.
car 3-1-buy.F but 1-money 3-none.NIChizh ła’ ’ahidíłkaał ’áko ’índa nich’į’ n’deeshłééł.
firewood some 2-chop CONJ 2-to 1-pay.FDaango k’ééda’dilyééh nt’éé’ t’áádoo k’ééda’diilyáa da.
spring-GO 3-plant.R past NEG 3-3-plant.P NEGWe used to plant in the springtime, but this time we didn’t.
bookmark- -go verb and subordinating encliticfind in Navajo Adverb Lexicon
- Iterative (R)find in Navajo Verb Modes
- k’idishłé plant itfind in Navajo Verb Modes
- ńt’éé’ past
- ńt’éé’ relates to past timefind in Navajo Adverb Lexicon
- t’áadoo notfind in Navajo Adverb Lexicon
- Perfective (P) (yi, ni, si, yi-∅)find in Navajo Verb Modes
- k’idishłé plant itfind in Navajo Verb Modes
Damóo yę́ędą́ą́’ Yootóógóó niséyá.
Sunday past Santa.Fe-to 1-go.PDamóogo ’áłah ’aleeh ’áko ’áadi nihaadíínááł.
Sunday 3-gather 3-be so there-at 1-Pl-to-2-arrive.FThere is a meeting on Sunday so come see us there.
bookmarkDíí kwe’é biká’ígíí ’índa bik’i’diitą́.
this here 3-on.NOM until.then 3-1.understand.PDíí tsídii bit’oh yisdádeeshjoł, ’áko shį́į́ kónááhoot’éhé tsídii ła’ náábít’oh dooleeł.
this bird 3-nest 3-1-save.F-NCM then maybe next.year bird some again-3-nest futureDziłghą́ą́’í ’alóós dóó nááneeskadí ńdeidį́į́h.
Wht.Mtn.Apache rice and tortilla pl-3-3-eat.RHííłch’į’go ’íinda ta’iideeshnih.
evening.GO until 1-mix.dough.FHooghan bikáá’ dah si’ánígíí bíyah da’nii’áago ’ádíílį́į́ł ’áko hooghan doo ’ałhiih nídoołdas da.
hogan 3-on up 3-sit.SPN-ÍGÍÍ 3-under pl-3-extend.NP-GO 3-2-make.F so hogan NEG RECIP-3-collapse.F NEGUse strong pillars to build the hogan so that the roof will not cave in.
bookmark- -káá’ on, on top offind in Navajo Postposition Lexicon
- dah up at an elevation, off, static, holdingfind in Navajo Adverb Lexicon
- Si-Perfective Neuter (SPN)find in Navajo Verb Modes
- -yah under, beneathfind in Navajo Postposition Lexicon
- Neuter Perfective (NP)find in Navajo Verb Modes
- -go verb and subordinating encliticfind in Navajo Adverb Lexicon
- Future (F)find in Navajo Verb Modes
- ’áko so, so that, so then
- doo --- da frame to negativize verbs and phrasesfind in Navajo Adverb Lexicon
Hooghan bine’jígo łį́į́’ sizį́ dóó t’íís yiyaagi dahaastł’ǫ́.
home behind-at-GO horse 3-stand.SPN AND cottonwood 3-under-at up-3-3-tie.PHoozdohgóó daats’í deeshááł ’éí doodaii’ Be’eldííldahsínilgóó deeshááł.
Phoenix-toward maybe 1-walk.F or Albuquerque-toward 1-walk.FK’idadeelyáá nit’éé’ t’óó daazgan, háálá doo nahałtin da.
1pl-plant.P past just 3pl-dry.SPN, because NEG 3-rain.CI NEGWe planted but they just shriveled up, because of the lack of rain.
bookmark- Perfective (P) (yi, ni, si, yi-∅)find in Navajo Verb Modes
- k’idishłé plant itfind in Navajo Verb Modes
- ńt’éé’ relates to past timefind in Navajo Adverb Lexicon
- Si-Perfective Neuter (SPN)find in Navajo Verb Modes
- háálá for, because
- doo --- da frame to negativize verbs and phrasesfind in Navajo Adverb Lexicon
- Continuative Imperfective (CI)find in Navajo Verb Modes
Kii łį́į́’ yizloh léi’ yí’diiłííd.
Kii horse 3-3-rope.SP CONJ 3-3-brand.IKin bighą́ą́’dę́ę́’ hadah ’adzííłhaal ndi t’áadoo ’ádadénih da.
house 3-to-from down 1-tumble.P but NEG RFLX-1-hurt.P NEGI tumbled off the housetop but I didn’t get hurt.
bookmark- -ghą́ą́h attaching to, hitched to, connected tofind in Navajo Postposition Lexicon
- -dę́ę́’ from a general location or point in space or time, also out of, off offind in Navajo Postposition Lexicon
- Perfective (P) (yi, ni, si, yi-∅)find in Navajo Verb Modes
- ndi but
- Perfective (P) (yi, ni, si, yi-∅)find in Navajo Verb Modes
- t’áadoo notfind in Navajo Adverb Lexicon
Kin Łánídi naashnish háálá ’áadi shaghan.
Flagstaff 1-work.I because there 1-live.NIKinŁánídi ’ííníshta’ ńt’éé’ ’áádóó t’áá ’ániidígo ’áadi náánísdzáá ńtéé’ ’ééhosisya’ lá.
Flagstaff-in 1-study.P past and.then just recently there-at 1-return.P past 1-get.hazy.P discMosi ’áłts’íísí ndi nidaaz.
cat small but 3-heavy.NINa’ná’á biyaa góne’ dóó báhátis ’adiłt’oh.
bridge 3-under below and 3-across 3-3-shoot.PNanise’ígíí ch’iyáán daohsą́ ’áko bee nihits’íís bitah yá’ádahoot’ééh dooleeł.
plant-ÍGÍÍ food pl-2-eat.I so 3-with 2pl-body 3-among pl-3-good.NI futureNáá’íídéeshtah nisin doodago t’óó siláogóó deeshááł.
again-1-go.school.F 1-want or merely military-to 1-go.FNááhai yę́ędą́ą́’ daashin Tótadi niiłtsą́ą ni’.
winter past perhaps Farmington-at 2-1-see.P NI’Nizhónígo ha’íí’ą́ yę́ędą́ą́’ sxíiłgo da’ségis.
beautiful sunrise past quickly pl-3-1-wash.PShidá’í látsíní ’áyiilaa’ii’ yaa bił hoozhǫǫhgo bima yaa yinítą́.
1-uncle bracelet 3-make.P-and 3-3-happy.I 3-mother 3-3-give.PMy uncle made a bracelet and cheerfully gave it to his mother.
bookmark- Perfective (P) (yi, ni, si, yi-∅)find in Navajo Verb Modes
- ’ashłééh makefind in Navajo Verb Modes
- -ii’ and, and thereupon
- -aa tofind in Navajo Postposition Lexicon
- benefactive
- -ił withfind in Navajo Postposition Lexicon
- cognitive experiencer
- Perfective (P) (yi, ni, si, yi-∅)find in Navajo Verb Modes
Shimá dóó shizhé’é bił dibé dóó tł’ízí ta’nda’díígish nt’éé’.
1-mom and 1-dad 3-with sheep and goats 3-pl.shear.I pastShimá bighangóó shíni’ ńt’éé’ ch’ééh déyáago shił náhoogéé’.
1-mother 3-home-to 1-desire.to.go past in.vain 1-go.P-GO 1-with ho-become.lazy.XI wanted to go to my mother’s house however I was tired and became lazy.
bookmark- -góó to, toward, along, on, with a numeral it indicates a datefind in Navajo Postposition Lexicon
- Future (F)find in Navajo Verb Modes
- ńt’éé’ past
- ch’ééh in vain, futilely, tryfind in Navajo Adverb Lexicon
- Perfective (P) (yi, ni, si, yi-∅)find in Navajo Verb Modes
- déyá gofind in Navajo Verb Modes
- -ił withfind in Navajo Postposition Lexicon
- Imperfective (I) (∅, ni, si, yi-∅)find in Navajo Verb Modes
Shimá dóó shizhe’é ’éiyáhá Kin Łánígóó naazh’áázh.
1-mother and 1-father TOP building many-to 3-roundtrip.pl.SPShíká ’anánílwo’ doodago’ t’áadoo shaa nánít’į́ní!
1-after indef-help.R or just-neg 1-about 1-2-bother.NI-negTó lą’ígo nidlą́ ’áko bee nitah yá’áhoot’ééh dooleeł.
water many 3-2-drink.DI so 3-with 2-among pl-3-good.NI futureTsé binahjį’ kídíníikeeł dóó háádiilyįh.
rock 3-against 1du-sit.F and 1du-rest.FTsé’áándę́ę́’ dóó tsédáajį’ ninish’na’.
cave-from and cliff-to 1-crawl.PI crawled out of the cave and to the edge of the cliff.
bookmark- -dę́ę́’ from a general location or point in space or time, also out of, off offind in Navajo Postposition Lexicon
- dóó and, and then
- -jį́’ up to, as far asfind in Navajo Postposition Lexicon
- Perfective (P) (yi, ni, si, yi-∅)find in Navajo Verb Modes
- ninish’nééh crawl to a pointfind in Navajo Verb Modes




