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

Shizhé’é bichíditsoh yaa naashnish

1-father 3-truck-large on.it 3-3-worked.P 1-father 3-truck-large on.it 3-3-worked

’Anít’i’ ńtłóo’go biniinaa béégashii t’óó yigháníkah.

fence 3-loose.P-GO 3-because.of cow just 3-through-3-go.pl.P
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Because the fence is slack (loose), the cows go right through it.

’ałk’idídą́ą́’

’Áádóó éí haa daadzaa?

and.then TOP what pl-3-do.P

’Eii łééchą̨ą’í t’áá ’áko taah yilwo’.

that dog immediately water.into 3-run.U
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The dog immediately runs into the water.

-ąąh

Asdzání ní’jookąąhgo kintahdi nijighá.

woman-NOM Rep-3a-beg.I-GOtown-at about-3a-walk.I
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A lady is walking around in the city asking for help.

Át’ah ’índa shaa náádíídááł.

later 1-to again-2-come.F

Baa dahwiinít’ínígíí sh bééhodoozįįł nissin.

agenda 1-with 3-about-ho-find.out.F 3-1-want.NI

bik’ídadeediz

pl-3DO-1dpl-wrap.it.around.it.P

Bįįh bináyaa niłchiin ’éí hataałii chodayooł’į́.

deer 3-eye beneath matter that medicineman 3-3 use.I
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The matter from under the eye fold of a deer (used for medicine ceremonially)

ch’ééh

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in vain, futilely, try, try in vain

Da’ Ron saad nináánéíłkaah ya’?

Q Ron word 3-3-investigate.I Q

dadizhdínóołkał

pl-3DO-4dpl-start.to.herd.them.(animals).F

Daniel hahgosh hidilníísh?

Daniel when-Q 3-start.work.I

dazhdííłhį́į́’

pl-3DO-4dpl-melt.it.P

deididoołhįh

pl-3DO-3dpl-melt.it.F

deiyííyą́ą́’

pl-3DO-3dpl-eat.it.P

Dichin nínízin ya’?

hungry 2-want.NI Q

dididiiljah

3DO-1dpl-start.fire.F

Díí dziłígíí shádi’ááh bich’ijígo ’ałkéé’ ’adíítąąd.

this mountain-Comp southward 3-toward-GO one-behind-another 3Pl-scatter.NP
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These mountains are strung out, one behind the other toward the south.

Díkwíísh ninááhai?

how.many-Q 2-winter.NI

Doo t’áá k’ad chidí na’ní’ą́ą da.

NEG just now vehicle 2-3-1-lend.P NEG
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I don’t want to lend you a car.

Doozhǫǫgo da’ííłta’ígíí t’éiyá yá’át’éehgo naanish bá dahólǫ́.

satisfactory pl-3-study.P-NOM only 3-good.N-GO work 3-for pl-3-exist.NI
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Only the people with a decent education have good jobs.

Gah bik’ee’ taah yí’áhígóó ’eesbąs.

rabbit foot water 3-into1-drive.Prog
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I’m driving to Florida.

Ha’át’íí lá nizhé’é yaa naaghá?

what Q 2-father 3-about 3-do.CI

Haa nízahdę́ę́’ hoołtį́į́ł?

how 3-long-from rain.Prog

Há’át’íí lá hastiin dóó ’at’ééd ’áyiilaa?

what Q man and girl 3-3-make.P

Hádą́ą́’sh Mary ’ólta’dę́ę́’ nádzá?

when-past-Q Mary school-from 3-return.P

Hooghan ’adeeshłííł ndi tsineheeshjíí’ shee ’ádin.

hogan 1-build.F but lumber 1-with 3-none.NI

laanaa

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optative particle expressing a positive wish, hope or desire

le’ ’át’éégóó

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used with the optative mode to produce a meaning roughly equivalent to “proof against”

Naakiiskánídą́ą́’ dibé tó ła’ bá niníyį́.

two.days.ago sheep water INDEF 3-for 3-1-haul.P
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I hauled water for the sheep two days ago.

Niba’ sézį́.

2-wait 1-stand.SPN
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I’m waiting for you.

Nichidí háadishą’ nííníłbą́ą́z

2-car where-at-Q 3-2-park.P

nisoołkáá’

3DO-2dpl-investigate.it.P

Shá bíighah tsiyaa sédáago, shinááł nida’jiłkǫ́ǫ́’.

sun proportionate tree-under 1-sit.SPN-GO 1-watch.CI pl-4-swim.P

Shilééch’ąą’í bits’ąą ńdínésht’į́į́’.

1-dog 3-away.from 1-hide.P

Shilééch’ąą’í hats’ąą ńdóosht’į́į́ł laanaa nízin yę́ę bik’íníyá.

1-dog areal-away.from 1-hide.O wishful 3-want past 3-1-find.P

Shilééchąą’í sitsijį’ yilwoł.

1-dog 1-ahead-to 3-run.I

Shí t’óó ’ááłk’iis yisháałgo shizhé’é tsékooh gódeg ha’asbą́ą́z.

1 merely SUP-alongside 1-go.Prog-GO 1-father canyon areal-up up-3-drive.P
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My father drove (a wagon) up out of the canyon with me walking alongside.

Shį́į́dą́ą́’ łį́į́’ yázhí shee hazlį́į́’.

summer-past pony 1-with 3-become.P
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I got a pony last summer, I acquired a pony last summer.

Sitsóí bi’éé’ nizhónígo bá nishéch’ąą’.

1-grandchild 3-clothes 3-beautiful.NI-GO 3-for designed.P 1-it
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I designed my grandchild’s colorful clothes.

t’áá

Tónaneesdizígóó bił ’anáá’oolwod.

tuba.city-to 3-with again-3-drive.R
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S/he drove to Tuba City again.

Tsé nitsaa ’áko nidaaz.

stone 3-big CONJ 3-heavy

Tsé taah héjaa’go tó ńlínígíí bikáá’ ha’naa shił ni’ílwod.

stone water-into 3-1-put-.P-GO stream 3-on area-across 1-with 3-run.P
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Putting stones into the water, I drove across the stream.

Tsékooh biniit’aají łįį’hoł sizį́į́go binísá.

canyon 3-barring.to.a.point horse 4-with 3-stand.SPN.GO 3-1-caught-up.P
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I caught up with him sitting on his horse at the canyon.

Tsékooh góyaa tł’óół bee ’adanásh’nah.

canyon areal-down 3-with 1-climb.down.R

Łį́į́’ bik’i na’ashnííł.

horse 3-on 3-1-unsaddle.I