The Progressive mode

This verb mode tells about something that one is making or doing. Young & Morgan explain the progressive mode this way: The Progressive Mode describes an action or event as one that is ongoing, along in a line in time or space, without reference to beginning or end (Young & Morgan 1987:157g, Young 2000:70 [link]). The description in Young & Morgan of the Imperfective Mode is similar to their description of the Progressive Mode. They are almost the same.

The Navajo Progressive is similar to the Present Progressive in English (which consists of be + verb -ing). This is illustrated in the examples below:

listenloadingplaying

(1)
Sitsóóké da’ółta’go t’óó bik’iisdził.
1-grandchildren pl-school-GO just 3-1-support.Prog
I supported my grandchildren while they attended school.

listenloadingplaying

(2)
’Áłah ’aleehdi hastiin léi’ t’óó yááłtih yiits’a’.
meeting-at man INDEF just 3-talk.Prog 3-be.heard.I
I hear a man talking at the meeting.

Not all verbs have a progressive mode. Those that have a progressive mode use the same stem that is used for the future mode.