nilį́
edit
Etymology edit
ni- (modal) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -lį́ (neuter imperfective stem of root -LĮ́Į́ʼ, “to be, to become”).
Verb edit
nilį́
- he/she is (some thing, or some quality)
- Diné nílį́ ― you are Navajo.
Usage notes edit
This verb is generally used for animate subjects. When describing something inanimate, use the verb átʼé in most cases. For existence and location, use the verb hólǫ́.
This is a neuter verb. As such, it is only used in the imperfective.
Conjugation edit
Paradigm: Neuter imperfective (ni).
NEUTER IMP | singular | duoplural | plural |
---|---|---|---|
1st person | nishłį́ | niidlį́ | daniidlį́ |
2nd person | nílį́ | nohłį́ | danohłį́ |
3rd person | nilį́ | danilį́ | |
4th person | jílį́ | dajílį́ |
Other modes are suppleted by forms of yileeh:
PERFECTIVE | singular | duoplural | plural |
---|---|---|---|
1st person | sélį́į́ʼ | siidlį́į́ʼ | dasiidlį́į́ʼ |
2nd person | sínílį́į́ʼ | soolį́į́ʼ | dasoolį́į́ʼ |
3rd person | silį́į́ʼ | dazlį́į́ʼ | |
4th person | jizlį́į́ʼ | dajizlį́į́ʼ |
FUTURE | singular | duoplural | plural |
---|---|---|---|
1st person | deeshłeeł | diidleeł | dadiidleeł |
2nd person | dííleeł | doohłeeł | dadoohłeeł |
3rd person | dooleeł | dadooleeł | |
4th person | jidooleeł | dazhdooleeł |