Partitive (from Latin pars - part), partial case or dividing case - grammatical case in some languages, for example, in Finnish , Estonian and Udmurt .
This form of declension of nouns, adjectives, pronouns and numerals is mainly used to denote the property of "partiality".
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Russian partitive
In Russian, the partitive is sometimes called the “ second genitive, ” since only in a limited number of words its form is different from the genitive, but its use is quite common.
Take a little coffee ...
- F.M.Dostoevsky . The Brothers Karamazov , Part Two, Book Four
In most cases, in modern Russian, the partitive can be replaced by the genitive or accusative cases: instead of pouring tea (partitive) - pour tea (accusative case), instead of a glass of sugar (partitive) - a glass of sugar (genitive case).
Finnish Partitive
In Finnish, the partitive, along with the nominative, is the most important case. Both cases are cases of the subject, complement and nominal part of the predicate. Partitive indicates partial coverage of the object of action:
- Luen kirjaa - I am reading a book
Finishes in part in Finnish: -a / -ä, -ta / -tä, -tta / -ttä.
In Finnish, the partitive also expresses an indefinite amount of something:
- Onko sinulla rahaa ? - Do you have money?
Partitive is also used after words defining measure, degree and quantity:
- Asunnossa on vähän tilaa - There is little space in the apartment
- Hänellä oli paljon rahaa - He had a lot of money
Syntactic functions of words expressed by partitive (meaning and use of partitive)
Subject in Partitive
1) The subject in the partitive case form of the Finnish language can be divided into two groups:
a) in the role of the subject are words related to divisible
Such a subject denotes an indefinite set, appears in the partitive of the singular. Usually at the absolute end of a sentence:
- Pullossa on mehua - In a bottle of juice
- Torille tuli kansaa - People came to the square
b) the words related to indivisible
Most often appears in the form of the plural partitive, while the predicate is always in the singular form. The subject is at the end of the sentence:
- Kadulla on autoja - Outdoor Cars
- Tällä on onnellisia lapsia - Happy children are here
The subject also appears in the form of a partit when designating an indefinite quantity:
- Lapsia leikkii pihalla - Children (unspecified) play in the yard
- Lapset leikkivät pihalla - Children (known number) play in the yard
2) Partitive is used to deny:
- Kadulla ei ole autoa - No cars on the street
- Kadulla ei ole autoja - No cars on the street
Predicted in Partitive
Partitive is used to express the nominal part of a compound predicate (predicative part) if:
a) the subject is expressed by an indivisible noun:
- Hän on maamme parhaita kirjailijoita - He is one of the best writers in our country
- Ruusut ovat punaisia - Roses - Red
- Me olemme venäläisiä - We are Russians
b) the subject is expressed by a divisible noun:
- Kahvi oli hyvää - Coffee was good
- Joskus elämä on vaikeaa - Sometimes life can be difficult
- Aika on rahaa - Time is Money
A predicate characterizes an object or person using the verb olla - to be. The combination of the subject in the partitive with the partitive predicate is impossible (ihmisiä on iloisia - incorrect; true - ihmiset ovat iloisia)
c) the subject is expressed by the infinitive or subordinate clause:
- On ilmeistä, että ... - Obviously, that ...
- On parasta tehdä työtä - The best thing is to work
d) the proposal does not contain the subject:
- Luennolla oli mielenkiintoista - It was interesting at the lecture
Addendum in Partitive
Partial design of direct addition indicates partial coverage of the object by the action:
- Maalaan taloa - I paint the house
- Liisa kirjoittaa kirjettä - Fox writes a letter
In denial, direct complement is expressed in a partitive form:
- En lukenut tätä kirjaa - I have not read this book
- Älä osta autoa! - Do not buy a car!
Partitive conveys species imperfection, procedurality, incompleteness of action, which is translated into Russian by the verb of imperfect form:
- Luen kirjaa - Reading a book
- Syön omenaa - Eating an Apple
The action is incomplete neither in the present nor in the past tense.
- Silja juo maitoa - Silja drinks milk
- Silja joi maitoa - Silja drank milk
Partitive allows you to convey the value of the uncertainty of an object, an indefinite set, part, unlimited quantity:
- He katsoivat kuvia - They watched pictures (generally all pictures)
- He katsoivat kuvat - They watched pictures (only these)
A number of verbs of strong control require only partitive control:
- Odottaa onnea - Wait for happiness
- Rakastaa lasta - To love a child
- Vihata naapuria - Hate Neighbor
- Kiinnostaa minua - Interesting Me