WhenVBal: The verb of a when-clause obligatorily appears in base form.

WhenVDrkDiffT: The verb of a when-clause always appears in a special form, regardless of the features of the verb; however, the specific special form in which it appears (or can appear) depends on its temporal relationship to the verb of the main clause.

(1a) mīša jaqə ʌaŋ-m-aʌ-nə māša kēm ʎīwət.

Misha in step-pst.ptc-3sg-loc Masha out go.pst.3sg

‘As Misha was entering the room, Masha left.’ (L. N. K.)

(1b) mīša jaqə ʌaŋ-əm ʌāt-nə māša kēm ʎīwət.

Misha in enter-pst.ptc time-loc Masha out go.pst.3sg

‘As Misha was entering the room, Masha left.’ (L. N. K.)

(1c) qūntə mīša jaqə ʌaŋ, māša kēm ʎīwət.

when Misha in enter.pst.3sg Masha out go.pst.3sg

‘When Misha entered the room, Masha left.’ (L. N. K.)

(2a) mīša jaqə ʌaŋ-m-aʌ pӯr-nə māša kēm ʎīwət.

Misha in enter-pst.ptc-3sg after Masha out go.pst.3sg

‘After Misha entered the room, Masha left.’ (L. N. K.)

(2b) mīša jaqə ʌaŋ, ťūt pӯr-nə māša kēm ʎīwət.

Misha in enter.pst.3sg that after Masha out go.pst.3sg

‘Misha entered the room, then Masha left.’ (L. N. K.)

(3) mā kānək wɔ̄ńť-ťaɣə mən-t-am-nə wīčipə ənəʌ qӯnt wə-ʌ-əm.

I berry gather-inf go-prs.ptc-1sg-loc always large basket take-prs-1sg

‘When go to pick berries, I always take a large basket with me.’ (L. N. K.)

(4) mā jūɣ-at jaŋqiʌ-t-am märə nīj-əm ӯʌə qopəʌ-ʌ.

I tree-fin walk-prs.ptc-1sg time fire-1sg down go_out-prs.3sg

‘When I go out to collect firewood, the fire always goes out.’ (L. N. K.)

(5a) mā wont-nam mən-t-am īʌpi-nə ār ʌīwpəs ʌīťatə-ʌ-əm.

I forest-apr go-prs.ptc-1sg before-loc lot food prepare-prs-1sg

‘Before I go to the forest, I always prepare a lot of food.’ (L. N. K.)

(5b) mā wont-nam mən-ʌəɣ-am-nə ār ʌīwpəs ʌīťatə-ʌ-əm.

I forest-apr go-neg.ptc-1sg-loc lot food prepare-prs-1sg

‘Before I go to the forest, I always prepare a lot of food.’ (L. N. K.)

Traditionally, the markers of temporal clauses are participles in Surgut Khanty. However, the participles are only able to express temporal relations partially. Present and past participles take oblique case markers or postpositions in order to express that the event of the when-clause happened before, after or at the same time as the event described in the main clause. Present participles typically appear next to present tense main sentences (3), (4). If the predicate is in the past tense, the when-clause has a past participle (1a), (1b), (2a). Posterior relationships can also be expressed with negative participles (5b) and postposition marked participles (5a). In contemporary texts, constructions containing two finite verbs have also appeared, but they are rare (1c), (2b).