Evidentiality in Uzbek and Kazakh

 
Table 20 - Predicative Forms Based on the Infinitive 
 
Uzbek 
Kazakh 
Definite Future 
 
-MAK 
Intentional Future 
-moq-chi 
-MAKšI 
Inchoative 
-moq-da 
-Uw-dA 
 
The third type of non-finite verb form that may be used predicatively is the converb. In 
Uzbek and Kazakh there are two converbial forms, which are commonly assigned the labels 
‘imperfective’ or ‘intraterminal’ (Uz: a/y, Kaz: A/y) and ‘perfective’ or ‘postterminal’ (Uz: -(i)b, 
Kaz: -(I)p), although the choice between these two is often governed by the following verb and 
not aspectual considerations.
5
 
5
See Johanson 2005, Erdal 2004 for further discussion of these terms and their associated 
meanings. 

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52 
Table 21 - Converbial Forms 
 
Uzbek 
Kazakh 
Imperfective a/y 
A/y 
Perfective 
-(i)b 
-(I)p 
 
Converbs are set apart from other non-finite predicates by their use of the converbial agreement 
markers (Table 14). 
Converbs are V + V constructions that behave in many ways like serial verbs in other 
languages. What sets them apart from true serial verbs is the presence of converbial suffixes 
noted above. The presence of these forms violates the restriction that serial verbs not be 
connected by any sort of “overt marker of coordination, subordination, or syntactic dependency 
of any sort” (Aikhenvald 2006, 1, Mufwene 1990, cf. Stewart 2001, Haspelmath 1995).
Converbs in Turkic express the same sorts of relations between events that serial verbs express, 
such as simultaneity, cause and effect, consecutivity, or even description of one event by another.
Also like serial verb constructions, the two verbs obligatorily share a subject and may or may not 
share an object. 
(37) Murodjon gugurt chaq-ib vklyuchatel-ni top-di. (Uz) 
Murodjon match strike-
CVB 
switch-
ACC
find-
PST
.3
SG
‘Murodjon lit a match and found the switch.’ 
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of converb constructions, through, is that they have 
grammaticalized into a closed class of special forms that express modal, aspectual, and other 
similar information for which no appropriate verbal ending had previously existed. In effect, 
many Turkic converbs act as light verbs (Bowern 2004) or like English modal verbs. 
(38) kiril alifbo-si-da tarjima qil-ib ko'r-di-m (Uz) 
 
Cyrillic alphabet-3-
LOC
translate do-
CVB
see/
TRY
-
PST
-1
SG
'I tried to translate it into the Cyrillic alphabet.'
6
 
6
2010. Arbuz.com Forums. Accessed 20 Feb 2010. 
www.arbuz.com:81/showthread.php?t=53950&page=3. 

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53 
 
(39) bar-a žat-qan-mïn (Kaz) 
 
go-
CVB
lie/
PROG
-
PRF
-1
SG
'I am going.' 
(Koç and Doğan 2004: 264) 
 
In examples (38) and (39), the first (and main) verb is marked with the converbial marker, while 
the second verb receives all TAM marking. In most cases, the second verb is form-identical to a 
main verb (in these cases 'see' and 'lie down'), but when used in converbial constructions, these 
verbs have modal or aspectual meanings. 
The predicative form based upon the imperfective converb is the basis for the 
present/future tense in both Uzbek and Kazakh and is used as an unmarked form when 
discussing current or near-future events (40). 
(40) O’q-ish-ni endi bitir-a-man. (Uz) 
Read-
NMLZR
-
ACC
now finish-
PRES
-1
SG
‘I’m now finishing reading.’ 
(Coşkun 2000: 141) 
 
In its predicative usage, the imperfective converb has grammaticalized to such an extent that it 
no longer may co-occur with any copular forms. 
The perfective converb, when used predicatively, functions as a non-confirmative past 
tense form (41), and unlike the imperfective converb, can co-occur with copular forms (42). The 
differences between this form, the simple past (-di/-DI), and the perfect (-gan/-GAn) are 
discussed in full in Chapter 3. 
(41) Qazaq-tïŋ žaqsïlïğ-ïn köp kör-ip-siŋ. (Kaz) 
Kazakh-
GEN
goodness-3.
ACC
much see-
CPST
-2
SG
‘You have really seen the goodness of the Kazakhs.’
7
7
2007. Alaš Aynasï. Accessed 27 Feb 2010. www.alashainasy.kz/?p=26679. 

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54 
(42) Sen tïm keš kel-ip e-di-ŋ. (Kaz) 
You too late come-
CPST COP
-
PST
-2
SG
‘You had come too late.’
8