partitiivinfiniivin

Partitiivinfiniivin is a grammatical case found in some Finnic languages, most notably Finnish and Estonian. It functions as an infinitive form, but specifically marks the object of certain verbs and postpositions as being indefinite, incomplete, or the object of a negative predicate. Unlike a nominative infinitive, which often indicates a subject or a completed action, the partitive infinitive conveys a sense of ongoing action, a lack of definite completion, or the direct object of a verb expressing denial or prohibition.

In Finnish, the partitive infinitive is often formed by adding a vowel and a consonant suffix to the verb stem, for example, *tulemaan* (to come). It is frequently used after verbs of motion like *mennä* (to go) and *tulla* (to come), indicating the purpose or destination of the movement, such as in "Menen kauppaan ostamaan maitoa" (I am going to the store to buy milk). It also appears with verbs expressing volition or desire, like *haluta* (to want) and *tietää* (to know), though in these instances, the distinction with other infinitive forms can be nuanced.

In Estonian, the partitive infinitive shares similar functional characteristics, expressing incompletion or indefiniteness. It is crucial for understanding the grammatical structure and semantic nuances of these languages, allowing for precise expression of actions and their relationship to other elements in a sentence. The presence of a partitive infinitive distinguishes these languages from many others that rely on prepositions or different infinitive constructions to convey similar meanings.