ExplN: The desiderative construction appears as a simple subject–predicate clause in which ‘want’ is expressed through the nominal subject. The desired action is subordinate to this subject, and the structure explicitly refers to the subject of the desired action. The latter may appear, for example, as a participial phrase.

ImplInf: The desired event is expressed by an infinitive appearing as the object of the verb ‘want’.

ExplVAff: The desiderative construction appears as a simple subject–predicate clause in which the verb form shows person and number agreement with the subject (also the agent) The desiderative function (‘want’) is expressed through the use of a special affix on the verb.

(1a) mīša lɔ̄pka-nam mən-tə kīč-əʌ waʌ-ʌ.

Misha shop-apr go-prs.ptc will(N)-3sg be-prs.3sg

‘Misha wants to go to the shop.’

(1b) mā lɔ̄pka-nam mən-tə kīč-əm waʌ-ʌ.

I shop-apr go-prs.ptc will(N)-1sg be-prs.3sg

‘I want to go to the shop.’

(2a) mīša lɔ̄pka-nam mən-tə kāč taj-aʌ.

Misha shop-apr go-prs.ptc will(N) possess-prs.3sg

‘Misha wants to go to the shop.’

(2b) lɔ̄pka-nam mən-tə kāč taj-ʌ-əm.

shop-apr go-prs.ptc will(N) possess-prs-1sg

‘I want to go to the shop.’

(3) lɔ̄pka-ɣa mən-taɣə ʌaŋq-ʌ-əm.

shop-lat go-inf want-prs-1sg

‘I want to go to the shop.’

(4) lɔ̄pka-nam mən-ɣiji-ʌ-əm.

shop-apr go-prob-prs-1sg

‘I’m trying/planning to go to the shop.’

In Surgut Khanty, a desired action is usually expressed by a participle construction (meaning ‘a wish doing something’ e.g. ‘a going will’), which can be the subject or the object of a habitive sentence. If the habitive sentence has a substantive verb (1a), (1b), it is the subject, but if it entails a habeo verb (2a), (2b), it is the object. Recently, the verb ‘want’ + infinitive construction has also appeared (3). A special Khanty dialectal construction with the verbal suffix ­ɣiji­ ‘try’ may also express the same meaning.