Partitiivinenepäsuora

Partitiivinenepäsuora is a term used in Finnish linguistics to describe a grammatical construction where the partitive case is employed in a way that signifies indirectness or uncertainty. Unlike the direct partitive, which typically marks an object that is partially affected or indefinite, the partitiivinenepäsuora suggests that the action or state described is not fully realized, is perceived indirectly, or its exact scope is unclear.

This construction often appears with verbs expressing perception, emotion, or modality. For example, verbs like "kuulla" (to hear), "nähdä" (to see), "tuntea" (to feel), and modal verbs often trigger the partitive case in a way that aligns with this concept of indirectness. The object of such verbs might be experienced through senses or inference rather than direct interaction.

The subtle difference between a direct partitive and a partitiivinenepäsuora lies in the semantic nuance. While a direct partitive might indicate "I saw a cat" (nähdä kissa), implying a complete observation of a cat, the partitiivinenepäsuora might manifest in contexts where the observation is less definitive or filtered. The precise grammatical boundaries and semantic scope of partitiivinenepäsuora are subjects of ongoing linguistic discussion and analysis, but it highlights the intricate ways case marking can convey complex meanings in Finnish.