Converbs in Kalmyk
The number of converbial forms in Kalmyk differs in existing grammar descriptions. In standard language, about 13 converbial forms are used actively. All converbs possess exclusively relative tense and mood, i.e., depending on the tense and mood of the main verb.
There are three coordinating converbs that are commonly mentioned upon all grammars (Proto-Mongolic core) and one negative converb:- -ž/-č imperfective
- -n modal
- -Ad perfective
- -l uga/-lgo negative converb
- Specialized temporal:
- -xlA successive
- -tl terminal
- -xArA contemporal
- -sArA abtemporal
- -xn’ immediately succeeding
- Non-temporal converbs expressing different adverbial relations:
- -vl conditional
- -vAs conditional (archaic)
- -xAr final
- -vč concessive.
All converbs discussed above are summarized in the following Table.
Table: Kalmyk converbs
| Personal marking | VS | only DS | only SS | |
| no possessive markers at all | -ž/-č * -Ad * -n * -lgo* -vč -xn’ -vAs -vl | − | -sArA -xArA -xAr | |
| only one type: refl. or pers. poss | only refl. poss. | − | − | − |
| only pers. poss. | − | − | − | |
| two types depending on DS or SS | ∅ in SS **, pers. poss. in DS | − | − | − |
| refl. poss. in SS, pers. poss. in DS | -tl -xlA | − | − | |
| fixed form both SS and DS | − | − | − | |
** The converbs -vl, -xn’, -vAs, and -vč take no reflexive possessive suffixes probably due to phonetic reasons.