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:

’Oółháásh lágo.

2-sleep.O don’t
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Don’t go to sleep.

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

’Ahwééh doo dich’í’ígíí ła’ jóódlą́ą́’.

coffee NEG 3-bitter.NI-NOM some 3-4-drink.O
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I want to drink coffee that isn’t bitter.

’At’ééd t’áá shǫǫ kinaasda’.

girl just good 3-puberty.P

’Atsiniltł’ish dóó tó dayókeedígíí baa ’áłah ’aleeh lá.

electricity and water pl-3-request.I-NOM 3-for meeting DISC

’Éí lą́ą baa nitséskees nít’ę́ę́’.

that EMP 3-about 1-think.I past

’Éí naanishígíí haa nízahdę́ę́’ binanilnishgo hoolzhiizh?

that work-ÍGÍÍ how 3-long.N-past 3-2-work-GO time.move.P

'Azháánee' shi dibé hólǫ́ǫ ndi, dibé ła nahiideeshnih.

even.though my sheep 3-exist.NI sheep one 1-buy.F

bik’ídídis

3DO-2-wrap.it.around.it.I

Bíla’ashdla’ii nishlį́.

3-hand-five-NOM 1-be.NI
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I am a five-fingered being (= a person).

Ch’ééh jiyáán náánááshdą́ą́’.

watermelon again-1-eat.R
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I ate watermelon again.

Ch’iyáán bá hooghandi béeso bideená naashnish.

food.store-at money 3-in-exchange.for 1-work.CI

dadíníilkaad

pl-3DO-1dpl-start.to.herd.them.(animals).I

dajishóóh

pl-3DO-4dpl-brush/comb.it.I

dajiłbéézh

pl-3DO-4dpl-boil.it.I

deiitł’ó

pl-3DO-1dpl-weave.it.I

Dichin nínízin ya’?

hungry 2-want.NI Q

Diné nishłį́ndi Bilaagana bizaad t’éí bee yáshti’.

Navajo 1-be.NI but English language only 3-with 1-speak.I

Doo ’áłah dadiidleeł da.

NEG together pl-1dpl-meet.pl.F NEG

Dzi’izí bikee’ náásxis nít’éé’ bił daalkaałí baa’íí’á.

bicycle 3-tire 3-3-turn.Prog past nail 3-into-3-extend.NP

Gohwééh t’áá bizhání ’éí doodaii’ ’abe’ bgo daats’í nínízin?

coffee only TOP or milk perhaps 3-with 3-2-want.NI

Ha’át’íísh neidiyoołnih nínízin?

who-Q 3-3-buy.F 2-think.NI

hadadéélbįįd

pl-3DO-1dpl-fill.something.up.with.it.P

hadínéeshchał

3DO-1-card.it.(as.in.wool).F
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card it (as in wool), 1st person singular

hanííníłchaad

3DO-2-card.it.(as.in.wool).P

Hatáaldi 'iikááh 'atah 'ajóle’.

ceremony-at sandpainting among 4-make.O
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One wants to take part in the sandpainting at the ceremony.

hayííłgizh

3DO-3-cut.it.out.P

Háadi lá dibé nidahaniih?

where-at Q sheep pl-3-pass-sell.CI

Háí lá sis łigai ’iił’įh

who-Q belt silver 3-3-make.U

Jáanísh naalnish?

John-Q 3-work.I

Kénídánííljeehgo, sin ła’ beehódíítał.

shoe.game-GO song some 2-sing.F

Mary ha’át’íí lá yinízin?

Mary what Q 3-3-want.NI

Naaki nááhaigo shich’é’é náá’íídeeshtah, ní.

Two year.GO 1-daughter again.school.F said.
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My daughter said, “In two years, I’ll continue my studies.”

Naʼahóóhai baa nídiikai ʼakó ʼakʼidahiʼniłí bee shí ʼadíílwoł.

rodeo 3-about 1pl-do.F so saddle.blanket 3-with 1-after 2-help.F

nidajilé

pl-3DO-4dpl-carry.a.ropelike.thing.around.I

nidasiilyá

pl-3DO-1dpl-carry.a.ropelike.thing.around.P

nidasoolá

pl-3DO-2dpl-carry.a.ropelike.thing.around.P

nideidooleeł

pl-3DO-3dpl-carry.a.ropelike.thing.around.F
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carry a ropelike thing around, 3rd person plural

Nilį́į́’ de’lóós.

2-horse here 3-2-lead.I

nisiilyá

3DO-1dpl-carry.a.ropelike.thing.around.P

Níká ’adeeshwoł biniiyé níyá.

2-for 1-run.F 3-purpose.of 1-came.P

Saad naashkaahgo baa naash.

word 3-1-research.CI-GO 3-to 1-go.Prog

Sitsiitł’óól tsásk’eh bikáá’ dah yishłééh.

Navajo.hair.tie bed 3-on up 3-1-put.SFO.U

T’áádoo shich’į’ béésh nídiiłts’į́hí

NEG 1-to phone 2-call.R-Í

Tó dílchxoshí sits’ą́ą́’ wóódlą́ą́lágo.

soda 1-from 3-1-drink.O don’t
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I hope you don’t drink my soda.

woo’aal

3DO-2dpl-chew.it.P

woołhį́į́’

3DO-2dpl-melt.it.(snow).P

yididoołhįh

3DO-3-melt.it.F

yiigish

3DO-1dpl-make.one.cut.in.it.I

yiłhį́į́h

3DO-3-melt.it.(snow).I

yíní’aal

3DO-2-chew.it.P

yínídlą́ą́’

3DO-2-drink.it.P