Mode
The mode of a Navajo verb conveys information about the timing of an action or condition. There are seven modes: Imperfective, Perfective, Future, Iterative, Usitative, Optative, and Progressive. This website provides descriptions of each mode and provides example sentences that illustrate the modes. Certain adverbial expressions are compatible with only some of the modes. Examples of these are included also.
Here is one example with a verb in the optative mode:
Each sentence is displayed with the Navajo text on the first line, an English translation on the third, and a gloss of words and word parts on the second. The verb stem is in italics and indicates the mode. There is also a red button which, when clicked, will allow you to hear a recording of a speaker saying the sentence. For more information on the gloss of words and word parts visit this link. For this project we draw on previous work by Fernald & Perkins (manuscript), Young & Morgan (1987), Young, Morgan & Midgette (1992), and others cited in References [link].
In the box below you can search for sentences by verb, mode, or adverb.
An example search has returned 50 entries
’Anishkeed, t’áá ká nóólk’oł lágo.
2-3-photograph.I neg 2-blink.O LÁGO’Ashą́ą́ nít’ę́ę́’ t’áadoo hooyání shaa ’ílwod.
1-eat.Prog past suddenly 1-for 3-drive.P’At’ééd sin t’áá hahígo yíhooł’ą́ą́’.
girl song just quickly 3-3-learn.P’Azee’ál’į́įdi t’óó tsé’édin ’ájiidzaa.
hospital-at just worse 4-become.NP’Ałk’idą́ą́’ dahane’ yę́ę bíneeshdlį́įgo yíłta’.
long.ago pl-story past 3-1-admire.I-GO 3-1-read.P’Áshįįh Bii’ Tóodi níyáago dził bąąh hanáádeesh’nah.
Salt.Lake.City-at 1-go.P-GO mountain 3-on again-1-climb.R’Eii łééchą̨ą’í t’áá ’áko taah yilwo’.
that dog immediately water.into 3-run.Ubik’ídadidiidis
pl-3DO-1dpl-wrap.it.around.it.FBini’ íídeeshtah doodago ’éiyá yóó’ ’adeeshwoł.
let will-1-school or only away 1-off-run.PCh’iyáán ’ádaasdįįdgo kingóó ła’ hááshááł.
food pl-3-run.out.P-GO store-to some area-1-go.get.ProgCh’iyáán ’áshłaadóó tsííd bik’i hooziid.
food 3-1-cook.P-from embers 3-onto area-1-cover.PChahash’ohjí ch’ínááhoníshóó’.
brush arbor-JÍ out-again-area-sweep.RDaané’é baa na’aldeehdi ’at’ééd jooł yídzoołtał.
game 3-to 3-happen.CI-at girl ball 3-3-kick.ProgDibé bitsį’ doodago béégashii bitsį’ daats’í nínízin?
sheep 3-meat or cow 3-meat possibly 3-2-want.NIDibé dził binaashii nanishkaad.
sheep hill 3-across.from 3-1-herd.CIDoo ’áłah diidleeł da.
NEG together pl-1dpl-meet.pl.F NEGhadanołchaad
pl-3DO-2dpl-card.it.(as.in.wool).Ihadoołbįįd
3DO-2dpl-fill.something.up.with.it.Phadoołtééł
3DO-2dpl-carry.him/her.up.out.of.something.FHádą́ą́’ Jáan bighan ’áyiilaa?
When-past John 3-hogan 3-3-make.PKénídánííljeehgo, sin ła’ beehódíítał.
shoe.game-GO song some 2-sing.FNa’azhǫǫshgi díkwíí shį́į́ shaa woobįįh?
hoop.and.pole.game-at how.much 1-to pass-win.INaaltsoos bikáá’ na’aníshí bikáa’gi si’ą́.
book desk 3-on-at up 3-lie.SRO.SPNNaʼazhǫǫshgóó dooʼáazhgo nihikééʼ ʼiih deeshwoł.
casino-to 2du-go.F-GO 2pl-follow 3-into 1-run.FNichxǫ' t'áadoo baa nánít’íní.
stop NEG 3-about 2-bother.I-Ínidasiilyá
pl-3DO-1dpl-carry.a.ropelike.thing.around.PNimá yázhí bighangóó díílwoł dóó ’áájí ’awéé’ baa ’áhólyą́ą dooleeł.
2-auntie 3-house-toward 2-run.F and there-at baby 3-to 2-care.CI FUTGo to your aunt’s house and take care of the baby over there.
bookmark- -góó to, toward, along, on, with a numeral it indicates a datefind in Navajo Postposition Lexicon
- goal
- Future (F)
- yishwoł run along
- -jí on the side of, in the direction of, in the manner offind in Navajo Postposition Lexicon
- location
- -aa tofind in Navajo Postposition Lexicon
- benefactive
- Continuative Imperfective (CI)
- ’áháshyą́ care
- dooleeł futurefind in Navajo Adverb Lexicon