The Imperfective mode
The Imperfective Mode usually describes an action or event that has begun but is incomplete. In this sense it is generally equivalent to an English present (progressive) BE + -ing. The imperfective is sometimes used in a future context. The second person forms are used as immediate imperatives (or commands). The imperfective mode is conjugated in 4 distinctive paradigms for active verbs (YM 2000 p. 65) [link].
Examples:
Kwe’é | k’ad | łe’esh’aah. |
here | now | earth-1-put.into.I.SRO |
Now, I am putting it (SRO) into the ground here. |
Na’nííshee’ | dóó | k’ad | éí | dah | ’iishtł’ó. |
3-1-warp.P | and | now | TOP | up | 3-1-tie.DI |
I prepared the warp and now I’m putting it up. |
These examples use k’ad to help signal the imperfective mode. Below are examples that don’t have k’ad:
Sikétsíín | diniihgo | bik’í’dísdis. |
1-ankle | pain-GO | 3-wrap.I |
My ankle aches so I’m wrapping it. |
Asdzání | ní’jookąąhgo | kintahdi | nijighá. |
woman | Rep-4-beg.I-GO | town-at | about-3a-walk.I |
A lady is walking around in the city asking for help. |
Níléidi | t’áá | bahat’aadí | shábitł’óól | ’anoolzhee’. |
There-at | just | clear-NOM | sun.3.rays | 3-rays.I |
Clearly, the sun rays are over there. |
Usually, imperfective verbs have sh-, ni-, and Ø- (which is not pronounced) for their first, second, and third person markers.
1st person | yishcha (yi-sh-cha) | I’m crying. |
---|---|---|
2nd person | yinícha (yi-ni-cha) | You’re crying. |
3rd person | yicha (yi-cha) | S/he is crying. |
The entries in the Young and Morgan (1987) [link] dictionary are ordered by first-person imperfective forms. The reason for this is that sh- (or s-) can usually be seen inside the verb.
Example of entries:
Young and Morgan | English |
---|---|
’asdiz | I’m spinning (string) |
’ashtł’in | I’m stacking |
’ashtł’ó | I’m weaving |