What is partitive case?

Definition
	Partitive case is a case that expresses the partial nature of the referent of the noun it marks, as opposed to expressing the whole unit or class of which the referent is a part.
	This case may be found in items such as the following:
	Existential clauses Nouns that are accompanied by numerals or units of measure Predications of material from which something is made
	It often has a meaning similar to the English word some.

Discussion
	The term partitive case is used especially in studies of Finno-Ugric grammar.

Generic
	Partitive case is a kind of
	What is case?

Sources
	Pei and Gaynor 1954 161
	Richards, Platt, and Weber 1985 208
	Quirk, Greenbaum, Leech, and Svartvik 1985 249
	Gove 1966 1648
	Sebeok 1946 12–14

Context for this page:

Concept module: partitive case
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): P
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004

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