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
’Ałk’idą́ą́’ shimá bił na’nishkaadgo ’aghaa’ yisdizígíí dibé yázhí yichíihgo yizénéíłt’ih.
long ago 1-mother 3-with SUP-1-herd.I-GO wool 3-spin.P-ígíí lamb 3-birth.P 3-neck-around-3-tie.P’Ííshją́ą́ ’at’ééd yázhí hooghandę́ę́’ ch’idoogááł.
certainly girl little house-from out-3-walk.F-ąąh
-ba-
to the point of exhaustion, used up, completed
bookmark-ch’ijí
toward, on the side, supporting;
bookmark-nah
Beehaz’áanii bik’ehgo baa hwiiníst’įįd.
laws 3-according-to-GO 3-about 3-discuss.PBich’ijí nishłį́.
3-toward-side 1-be.NICh’ééh jiyáán náshdį́į́h ’áádóó tó náshdlį́į́h.
watermelon again-1-eat.R then water again-1-drink.RCh’íníyáá nít’ę́ę́’ t’áá hooshch’į’ łééchąą’í shich’į’ ch’élwod.
out-1-go.P past suddenly 1-to dog out-3-come.PCh’į́į́góó ch’ééh tádííyá.
fail in.vain 1-go.PChidíísh bee hólǫ́ doodaii’ ni daats’í chidí nee hólǫ́?
car-Q 3-with 4-exist.NI or you perhaps car 2-with 4-exist.NIDoes s/he have a car or do you have a car?
bookmarkDa’iidą́ągo sitsilí bilééchąą yázhí náneeskaadí ła’ yá yiidiyiisdláád dóó yaa yiizhjaa’.
1Pl-eat.I-GO 1-brother 3-puppy tortilla some 3-tear.P and 3-to 3-3-give.PDíí mósí yázhí hooghangóó nááshtééł.
this cat little home-towards 3-1-carry.Progdoo deighánígóó
Doo łá’í ndi naash’áa da.
NEG one but 3-1-hold.SRO.CI NEGHa’át’íí biniiyé shą́ą́h ńdídááh?
what 3-because 1-passing.by 2-go.IHa’át’íísh Mary nayiisnii’?
What-Q Mary 3-to.buy.Ihadééłbįįd
3DO-1-fill.something.up.with.it.Pfill something up with it, 1st person singular
bookmarkHatáálgóó déyáago shikélchí t’óó tsxį́į́łgo bił ’ada’shéshiizhgo ńdaséłkad.
ceremony-1-go-Fut-GO 1-moccasin merelyhurry.GO 3-with 3-1-pierce-GO 3-1-sew-PHáágóó shą’ díníyá?
where-to.Q 2-go.FK’ad shį́į́ deesk’aaz hodooleeł.
now probably cold area-become.FKinŁánídi ’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 discNádí daats’í ’éí doodaii’ nideezhí daats’í bááh ’íidoolííł?
older.sister perhaps or younger.sister perhaps bread 3-make.FNíká ’adeeshwoł biniiyé níyá.
2-for 1-run.F 3-purpose.of 1-came.PSáanii ’éétsoh bi’oh ’ádaníłtso.
women coat 3-less.than indef-Pl-3.size.NShilééchąą’í yázhí shikéé’ yildlosh ńt’éé’ hashtł’ish yiih yildloozh.
1-dog little 1-behind 3-walk.Prog past mud 3-into 3-walk.PShilį́į́’ tł’aaká’ii dóó shilį́į́’ biyéél bił tsodizin ’íishłaa.
1-appaloosa and 1-horse 3-saddle 3-with prayer 3-1-make.PShį́į́dą́ą́’ na’niiłkaadgo t’áá ’áháníjį’ ’adeeshch’iłgo bik’ee deelyiz.
Tó bidinínáágóó ni’ bikáá’ hasé’éél.
water 3-opposite-toward land 3-on 1-float.PI floated up onto land in the opposite direction from the water. (YM 1979:179)
bookmarkTł’éédą́ą́’ ni’shéłhaazh.
night-past 1-rest.Pyiłbéézh
3DO-3-boil.it.IŁa’ nídeezid yę́ędą́ą́’ ’áajigo niséyá.
one month past that-way-GO 1.go.PI went there a month ago (and returned).
bookmark