partative

Partitive refers to a grammatical case that indicates a part of a whole. It is used in some languages to express concepts like "some of," "part of," or "a portion of." For example, in Finnish, the partitive case is used to mark the direct object when it is indefinite or incomplete, suggesting that only a part of the object is affected or being referred to. This contrasts with the accusative case, which typically marks a definite or complete direct object.

The partitive can also be used to express quantities or amounts of something, similar to using prepositions like "of" in English with mass nouns or plural countable nouns. Languages that have a partitive case often use it in sentences involving uncountable nouns or when referring to an unspecified amount of a countable noun. The specific functions and forms of the partitive case vary significantly between languages. It is found in Finnic languages, some Slavic languages, and others, each with its own set of rules governing its usage. Understanding the partitive is key to grasping the grammatical nuances of these languages, particularly when dealing with expressions of quantity, indefiniteness, and partiality.