converb

Converb is a non‑finite verb form that functions primarily as a modifier of another clause, expressing a range of adverbial meanings such as time, manner, cause, condition, or purpose. Unlike infinitives or gerunds, a converb typically lacks a finite tense and does not serve as the main predicate of a sentence. The term was coined in comparative linguistic studies of Turkic and Mongolic languages, where converbal constructions are especially productive, but similar forms occur in many language families, including Uralic, Caucasian, Australian, and some Native American languages.

Formally, a converb is derived from a lexical verb by adding derivational morphology that signals its non‑finite status and often a specific semantic role. In Turkish, for example, the suffix –(y)Ar (as in “gel‑erken” ‘while coming’) creates a converb; in Mongolian, –j adds a converbal meaning ‘by doing’. The morpheme may encode aspectual distinctions, such as imperfective or perfective, and may be stacked with other derivational elements.

Functionally, converbs link clauses in a clause‑chaining structure, allowing a series of actions or states to be expressed without resorting to coordinate or subordinate conjunctions. They can also serve as adverbial modifiers within a single clause, conveying temporal sequencing (“after eating”), causality (“because he left”), or concomitancy (“while walking”). In some languages converbs participate in nominalization, forming complex predicates or argument structures.

Theoretical analyses treat converbs as a type of verb form that occupies an intermediate position between finite verbs and nominalizations, often argued to be a distinct grammatical category. Their study contributes to understanding clause linkage, argument structure, and the typology of non‑finite verb forms across languages.