Editing Manchu language (section)

===== Converbs =====
[[Converb]]s (sometimes referred to as [[gerund]]s) have an adverbial function, and constructions with them often correspond to subordinate clauses in English.

====== Imperfect converb ======
The imperfect converb in ''-me'' expresses an action that is simultaneous with that of the finite verb, but it may also denote secondary meanings such as manner, condition, cause and purpose,<ref>Gorelova (2002: 267–268)</ref> and it can often be translated with an [[infinitive]] in English. This is the most frequent type of converb:<ref>Gorelova 2002, 267ff.; Haenisch 1986, 55.</ref> ''arame'' "(while) writing", ''hendume'' "(while) saying", ''fonjime'' "(while) asking", ''necihiyeme toktobumbi'' "conquer", lit. "stabilise, (while) levelling" (a calque of Chinese ''píng-dìng'' {{lang|zh-Hans|平定}}).
{{interlinear
| indent = 4|amba edun da-me deribu-he|high wind blow-IMPERF.CVB begin-PTCP|"A strong wind began to blow."
}}
{{interlinear
| indent = 4|morin be dali-me boo-de ji-he|horse accusative hide-IMPERF.CVB House-DAT come-PERF.PTCP|"He went home to hide the horses."
}}
<ref name="Möllendorff 1892, 9">Möllendorff 1892, 9.</ref>

====== Durative converb ======
The imperfect converb ending ''-me'' can be added not only to the stem, but also to the finite imperfect form in ''-mbi'' (which, in turn, is originally also a combination of an imperfect converb and the copula verb ''bi'' "is", see below)''.'' The resulting form ending in ''-mbime'' has been described as a separate durative converb'','' which expresses a non-completed or continuing action.<ref>Gorelova 2002, 273; Haenisch 1986, 55; Möllendorff 1892, 9.</ref> An example is ''arambime'' (< ''ara-me bi-me'')<ref>Gorelova 2002, 272.</ref> “while writing”. This form is also used in the following quote by [[Confucius]]:
{{interlinear
| indent = 4|fuze hendu-me. taci-mbime gūni-r-akū oci, mekele o-mbi. gūni-mbime taci-r-akū oci, jecuhuri o-mbi|master say-IMPERF.CVB. study-DUR.CVB think-IMPERF.PTCP-NEG TOP useless be-IMPERF.IND. think-DUR.CVB study-IMPERF.PTCP-NEG TOP, dangerous be-IMPERF.IND.|The Master said: Studying without thinking is useless. Thinking without studying is dangerous.
}}

====== Perfect converb ======
The perfect converb in ''-fi'' expresses an action that took place before the action of the finite verb; a secondary meaning is one of cause. It is the second most frequent converb:<ref>Gorelova 2002, 276ff.; Haenisch 1986, 55; Möllendorff 1892, 9.</ref> ''arafi'' "(after) having written", "after I wrote", or, more idiomatically, "I wrote and ...".

{{interlinear
| indent = 4|si boo-de isina-fi majige teye-fi buda je-fi dere obo-fi jai ji-ki|you House-DAT arrive-PERF.CVB a.little rest-PERF.CVB food eat-PERF.CVB, face wash-PERF.CVB then come-OPT|"After you have come home, rested a little, eaten and washed your face, come (to me)."
}}

A frozen form is ''ofi'' "because, since" (from ''ombi'' "be", "become"):
{{interlinear
| indent = 4|si tobsere niyalma o-fi|you trustworthy person be-PERF.CVB|"Since you are a trustworthy person, ..."
}}
Certain verbs have irregular forms: ''juwambi'' "open" – ''juwampi'', ''colgorombi'' "exceed" – ''colgoropi'', ''hafumbi'' "penetrate" – ''hafupi''.<ref>Gorelova 2002, 276; Haenisch 1986, 60</ref>

A similar meaning is expressed by adding the ending not to the stem, but to the finite imperfect form in ''-mbi'', resulting in ''-mbifi'': ''arambifi'' "having written".<ref name="Möllendorff 1892, 9"/>

====== Conditional converb ======
The conditional converb in ''-ci'' can express a condition, but also the time when something happened:<ref>Gorelova 2002, 278f.; Haenisch 1986, 55f.; Möllendorff 1892, 9.</ref> ''ara'''ci''''' "if, when you write"; ''si niyalma de nikene'''ci'''''  "if you rely on people"; ''yamun de tucifi tuwa'''ci''''' "as/when he went out to the hall and checked,...".

Frozen forms are ''oci'' and ''seci'' "if" (from ''ombi'' "be" and ''sembi'' "say").<ref>Gorelova 2002, 284.</ref> They can also serve as topic markers.<ref>Gorelova (2002: 410)</ref>

====== Concessive/adversative converb ======
The concessive or adversative converb in ''-cibe'' forms a construction that can be translated as "even if" or "although":<ref>Gorelova 2002, 280f.; Haenisch 1986, 56; Möllendorff 1892, 9.</ref> ''aracibe''  "even if I write". It appears to be derived from the conditional.

====== Terminative converb ======
The terminative converb in ''-tala/-tele/-tolo'' can be translated with clauses introduced by "until"; it expresses a subordinate action that is taking place simultaneously with that of the finite verb, and the latter continues until the first one is finished.<ref>Gorelova 2002, 282; Haenisch 1986, 56.</ref> ''hūsun moho-tolo'' "until his power is exhausted".

In Classical Manchu this form is no longer very productive. The most frequent forms are ''isitala'' "until" (from ''isimbi'' "reach") and ''otolo''  "until" (from ''ombi'' "be", "become"):
{{interlinear
| indent = 4|julge-ci te de isitala|ancient.times-ABL now DAT until|"from ancient times until the present"
}}

====== Descriptive converb ======
The converb with the suffixes ''-hai/-hei/-hoi'' or ''-kai/-kei/-koi'', also ''-tai/-tei/-toi'', expresses durative, periodic, frequent or intensive actions or processes:<ref>Gorelova 2002, 281; Haenisch 1986, 56.</ref> ''alahai'' "telling many times", ''jonkoi'' "constantly reminding". It appears to be derived from the perfect participle in ''-ha/he/ho'' (also ''-ka/ke/ko'' in some verbs) and the genitive ending ''-i'' in its adverbial function. Such forms have sometimes turned into adverbs: ''cohotoi'' "especially" from ''cohombi'' "to do especially, regard as the most important aspect". Other examples of this use are the phrases ''beye be waliyatai'' "selflessly", lit. "constantly throwing oneself around", and ''bucetei afambi'' "to fight to the death", lit. "to fight, constantly dying".

====== Converb in -nggala/-nggele/-nggolo ======
The converb in ''-nggala/-nggele/-nggolo'' can be translated with the conjunction "before"; it expresses a subordinate action that has not yet taken place at the time of the main one and will only take place ''after'' it:<ref>Gorelova 2002, 283f.; Möllendorff 1892, 9.</ref> ''aranggala'' "before writing"; ''dosinggala asuki isibumbi'' "before entering, one makes a noise". A frozen form is ''onggolo'' "before".