Converb

In theoretical linguistics, a converb (abbreviated cvb) is a nonfinite verb form that serves to express adverbial subordination: notions like 'when', 'because', 'after' and 'while'.

[1] The term was coined for Khalkha Mongolian by Ramstedt (1902) and until recently, it was used mostly by specialists of Mongolic and Turkic languages to describe non-finite verbs that could be used for both coordination and subordination.

хүнhünhumanинээжinee-žlaugh-žэхэлмэгцehel-megcbegin-megcзүрхzürhheartанхандааanh-and-aafirst-DAT-REFL.POSSхүчтэйhüčtejstrongцохилжcohil-žbeat-žаажмаарaažmaarslowlyцохилтынcohilt-ynbeat-GENхэмhemrhythmнэгnegoneхэвэндhev-endform-DATордогor-dogenter-HAB.PTCPбайна.baj-na.be-NPASTхүн инээж эхэлмэгц зүрх анхандаа хүчтэй цохилж аажмаар цохилтын хэм нэг хэвэнд ордог байна.hün inee-ž ehel-megc zürh anh-and-aa hüčtej cohil-ž aažmaar cohilt-yn hem neg hev-end or-dog baj-na.human laugh-ž begin-megc heart first-DAT-REFL.POSS strong beat-ž slowly beat-GEN rhythm one form-DAT enter-HAB.PTCP be-NPAST"As soon as a human begins to laugh, at first his heart beats strong, and slowly the rhythm of the beat assumes one (continuous) form.

It would be possible for -ž to mark an adverbial: БиBiI…… хүмүүсийнhümüüs-ijnpeople-GENтатгалзахыгtatgalza-h-yghesitate-FUT.PTCP-ACCтэвчижtevči-žbear-žчадахгүйčada-h-güjcan-FUT.PTCP-NEGгэжgežthatайжaj-žfear-žзаржzar-žsell-žэхэлсэн.ehel-sen.begin-PASTБи … хүмүүсийн татгалзахыг тэвчиж чадахгүй гэж айж зарж эхэлсэн.Bi … hümüüs-ijn tatgalza-h-yg tevči-ž čada-h-güj gež aj-ž zar-ž ehel-sen.I {} people-GEN hesitate-FUT.PTCP-ACC bear-ž can-FUT.PTCP-NEG that fear-ž sell-ž begin-PAST"I started my business, at the very beginning fearing that...

There are linguists who suggest that a reduction of the domain of the term converb to adverbials does not fit language reality (e.g. Slater 2003: 229).