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
’At’ééd t’áá shǫǫ kinaasda’.
girl just good 3-puberty.P’Ałk’idą́ą́’ ’éiyá naadą́ą́’ ’ayóo k’éédadiilyééh nít’éé’.
long.ago TOP corn very pl-3-1dpl-plant.R past’Áłahji’ tó dilchxoshí síníł’ą́.
always water popping-Í 3-2-keep.SPN’Eii ’asdzání t’áá naníle’dii haadzih.
that lady just dismay 3-speak.P’Eii łééchą̨ą’í t’áá ’áko taah yilwo’.
that dog immediately water.into 3-run.U’Ííyą́ą́’ dóó bik’ijį’ tsinyaagi nétį́į́ dóó ’iiłhaazh.
1-eat.P and 3-after tree-under-at.spec 1-lie.down.P and 1-sleep.P’Oółháásh lágo.
2-sleep.O don’t’Óshą́ą́’ laanaa’ dichin shi’niiłxį́.
1-eat.O wish hunger 1-3-kill.IBįįh bił da’doołdǫǫh.
deer 3-with pl-2dpl-shoot.IBéeso ła’ nich’į’ nidoolyééł t’ahádą́ą́’ ’ałtso nanilnish.
money some 2-toward 2-3-pay.F before.thus all 2-work.ICh’ééh jiyáán náshdį́į́h ’áádóó tó náshdlį́į́h.
watermelon again-1-eat.R then water again-1-drink.RCh’óóshdą́ą́dą́ą́’ Bilagáanaa Bizaad doo diists’a’ da. K’ad éí t’ááshxǫǫd t’áá bee yáshti’.
formerly English NEG 1-understand.I NEG | now TOP at.least just 3-with 1-speak.IChidí nidabinóołtłáád.
car pl-3-2dpl-stop.ODamóogo ’áłah ’aleeh ’áko ’áadi nihaadíínááł.
Sunday 3-gather 3-be so there-at 1-Pl-to-2-arrive.FDíí tł’éé’ ’índa hazhó’óó ’iideeshwosh.
this night only.then uninterrupted 1-sleep.FHaashą’ ʼátʼé, shí bichʼįʼ haʼdiisdzih.
how-Q 3-be.NI 1 3-to 1-speak.Fhadiiltééł
3DO-1dpl-carry.him/her.up.out.of.something.FHádą́ą́’ Jáan bighan ’áyiilaa?
When-past John 3-hogan 3-3-make.PHónáhoot’éhí ’índa ch’aa deeshááł nissin.
next.year until travel will.go.F 1-desire.Kin góne’ siikéé lá jiní.
house in 1dpl-sit.I DISC 4-say.IKénídánííljeehgo, sin ła’ beehódíítał.
shoe.game-GO song some 2-sing.FMary ha’át’íí nayiisnii’?
Mary what 3-3-buy.PNa’ná’á biyaa góne’ dóó báhátis ’adiłt’oh.
bridge 3-under below and 3-across 3-3-shoot.Pnidííleeł
3DO-2-carry.a.ropelike.thing.around.FNizhéʼé nilą́ąjįʼ yigáałgo bikééʼ yilwoł.
2-father 2-in.front-to 3-walk.Prog-GO 3-behind 2-run.ProgRun along behind your father as he walks ahead of you.
bookmark- Command, affirmativefind in Navajo Imperatives
- Progressivefind in Navajo Imperatives
- -go verb and subordinating encliticfind in Navajo Adverb Lexicon
- -jį́’ up to, as far asfind in Navajo Postposition Lexicon
- -kéé’ behind, followingfind in Navajo Postposition Lexicon
- Progressive (Prog)
- yishwoł run along




