converbien

Converbs, or converbs, are non-finite verb forms used in several languages to express adverbial subordination without the need for a separate conjunction. They attach to or accompany the main verb to convey a relationship between the subordinate action and the main clause, such as time, cause, condition, purpose, manner, or concomitance.

Morphology and syntax vary by language. Converbs are often formed by dedicated affixes on verb stems or by participial constructions. They can be suffixal, prefixal, or analytic (constructed with particles or auxiliary verbs). In many languages, a converb clause shares a subject with the main clause, but cross-linguistic patterns include coreference possibilities and occasional subject shifts.

Functions typically covered by converbs include simultaneity (actions happening at the same time as the main verb), anteriority or posteriority (actions occurring before or after), causation, condition, purpose, and manner. By providing these relations without conjunctions, converbs contribute to compact, tightly linked subordinate clauses and can yield layered temporal and directional meaning.

Cross-linguistic distribution shows converbs especially in languages with rich non-finite verb systems, such as Turkic and Mongolic languages, Finnic languages, Basque, and various Dravidian and Austronesian languages. In these languages, converbs may form a core part of the verb grammar alongside participles, gerunds, and other non-finite forms. The concept is primarily a matter of linguistic typology rather than a universal grammatical category, with terminology differing across languages.

See also: participles, gerunds, adverbial clauses, non-finite clauses.