partitiivgenitiivse

Partitiivgenitiivse is a term used in linguistics to describe a common pattern in Finnic languages, particularly Finnish, where a head noun in the partitive case is accompanied by a modifier or possessor in the genitive case. The construction highlights how partitive marking on the head noun can interact with genitive marking on a dependent element, often signaling possession or a partially specified quantity.

In practice, the partitiivgenitiivse pattern consists of a head noun in partitive together with a genitive attribute. For example, in Finnish the phrase koiran vettä involves the head noun vettä in the partitive (water) with koiran in the genitive (dog’s). Another example is lasten leipää, where leipää is in the partitive (bread) and lasten is genitive (the children’s). These combinations are routinely used in everyday speech to express ownership alongside a partially indefinite or partial object.

The phenomenon is not a separate grammatical category, but a productive arrangement within the noun phrase that reflects possession and aspectual nuance. It is common in expressive and descriptive contexts, especially with direct objects or phrases indicating partial quantity. While often treated as a routine feature of Finnish grammar, the term partitiivgenitiivse helps linguists discuss and compare how different languages handle the interaction between partitive and genitive markings.

See also: Partitive, Genitive, Finnish grammar, Possession in Finnic languages.

Notes: The term is descriptive and etymologically a compound of partitiivi and genetiivi, reflecting the two case systems involved.