Partitív

Partitív is a grammatical case found in some languages, notably Finnish and Estonian. It is used to express a part of a whole, an indefinite quantity, or an ongoing action. Unlike the accusative case, which typically denotes a definite or complete object, the partitív indicates something that is not fully possessed, consumed, or completed.

In Finnish, the partitív is frequently used with mass nouns to indicate an unspecified amount, such as in the sentence "Ostin maitoa" (I bought milk), where "maitoa" is in the partitív, signifying an unspecified quantity of milk. It is also used with plural indefinite objects, for instance, "Näin lintuja" (I saw birds), where "lintuja" implies seeing some birds, not all of them. Furthermore, the partitív is employed to express ongoing actions, especially with verbs of existence or perception.

Estonian also utilizes the partitív in similar ways, though its usage can sometimes overlap with other cases. It plays a crucial role in distinguishing between complete and incomplete actions, as well as between definite and indefinite objects. The partitív helps to convey nuances of quantity and aspect that are essential for understanding the full meaning of a sentence in these Finnic languages.