átʼé
See also: ate, ATE, até, -ate, and -áte
Navajo
Etymology
ʼá- (comparative) + -Ø- (ni-modal 3rd person subject prefix) + -Ø- (classifier) + -tʼé (imperfective stem of root -TʼEʼ, “to be”)
Verb
átʼé
- it is
- Díí tó átʼé. ― This is water.
- Ałʼąą átʼé. ― They are different.
- could
Usage notes
This verb is generally used for inanimate subjects. When describing people, use the verb nilį́ instead.
This is a neuter verb and needs an auxiliary verb for modes other than the imperfective mode.
Conjugation
Paradigm: Neuter imperfective (ni)
| IMPERFECTIVE | singular | duoplural | plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st person | áníshtʼé | ániitʼé | ádaniitʼé |
| 2nd person | áńtʼé | ánóhtʼé | ádanohtʼé |
| 3rd person | átʼé | ádaatʼé | |
| 4th person | ájítʼé | ádajítʼé | |
| PERFECTIVE | singular | duoplural | plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st person | áníshtʼéé nítʼééʼ | ániitʼéé nítʼééʼ | ádaniitʼéé nítʼééʼ |
| 2nd person | áńtʼéé nítʼééʼ | ánóhtʼéé nítʼééʼ | ádanohtʼéé nítʼééʼ |
| 3rd person | átʼéé nítʼééʼ | ádaatʼéé nítʼééʼ | |
| 4th person | ájítʼéé nítʼééʼ | ádajítʼéé nítʼééʼ | |
| FUTURE | singular | duoplural | plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st person | áníshtʼée doo | ániitʼée doo | ádaniitʼée doo |
| 2nd person | áńtʼée doo | ánóhtʼée doo | ádanohtʼée doo |
| 3rd person | átʼée doo | ádaatʼée doo | |
| 4th person | ájítʼée doo | ádajítʼée doo | |