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
’Ajóółháásh laanaa.
4-sleep.O wish’Ashkii yázhí ’ayóo hwe’ádílááh.
little boy very 3-mischief’Ayóo łį́į́’ shił naalgeed diní, ’ííshją́ą́shį́į́ díí łį́į́chogii bikáá’ dah ńdaah.
very horse 1-with 3-buck.CI 3-2-say.NI lets.see this stallion 3-on up 2-sit.I-doondó’ --- da, doo ndi ---da, doondó’ ndi --- da
-k’ee
Bįįh bináyaa niłchiin ’éí hataałii chodayooł’į́.
deer 3-eye beneath matter that medicineman 3-3-use.IChidí bąąh dah sitání bąąh dah shishtįįh ńt’éé’ ’ił adaagizí doo ’éí da lá.
car license plate 3-1-put. I SSO past Sup-with screw neg that neg Disc.Chidí bitiin ’ałts’ą́ą́hjí ’ańt’i’.
Da’ Ron saad nináánéíłkaah ya’?
Q Ron word 3-3-investigate.I QRon’s investigating words again?
bookmarkDaniel hahgosh hidilníísh?
Daniel when-Q 3-start.work.IDííshjį́į́góó shizhé’é łáháda bił ná’ahiistsééh.
nowadays 1-father seldom 3-with RECP-1-see.Rdíkwíí
Ha’át’éegosh náníldzid?
why-Q 2-fear.IHa’át’éegoshą’ t’áadoo díníyáa da?
why-Q neg 2-go.sg.P NEGHa’ąądi dibé bighan.
areal-other.side sheep 3-corralhahgo
Haidą́ą́’ ’a’áán góne’ naashnish ńt’éé’ --- doo shił yá’áhoot’éeh da.
winter-past mine.shaft 1-work.I past neg 1-with 3-good.N negHáidíígíí lá neidiyoołnih?
which.one-ÍGÍÍ DISC 3-3-buy.FHáidíígíísh neidiyoołnih nínízin?
which.one-ÍGÍÍ-Q 3-3-buy.F 2-think.NIHooghan binááshwoł ńt’éé shimá sání shich’ahóóshkeed.
hogan 3-encircling-1-run.Prog past 1-grandmother 1-3-scold.Pjidooyį́į́ł
3DO-4-eat.it.FJohn dáádílkałdóó sizį́į́ dóó ’áádę́ę́’ déez’į́į́’.
John door-from 3-stand.SPN and there-from 3-look.CIKin Łánídi daats’í ’éí doodago Bee’eldííldahsinildiísh naniná?
Flagstaff-at perhaps or Albuquerque-at-Q 2-go.around.CIKintahdę́ę́’ łį́į́’ shił nááldlosh.
town-from horse 1-with 3-run.CIMósí yázhí chizhtah yiyah yilwod.
kitten woodpile.among 3-under 3-run.PNaashnéego jooł báátis yímááz.
1-play-go.CI ball over 3-roll.Pnaohłé
3DO-2dpl-carry.a.ropelike.thing.around.Icarry a ropelike thing around, 2nd person dual
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