Partitive
The partitive is a case ( case ) in some languages, for example in the Finnish and Estonian .
This form of the declension of a noun , adjective , pronoun or numeral is unknown in German. One can imagine its meaning as very similar to that of the accusative , because the partitive also expresses the object of the activity, in contrast to the accusative, however, the partitive only relates the activity to a part of the object. This difference can also be expressed in German or is sometimes understandable in German.
The noun form of the nominative without an article (e.g. “cars”, “houses” as opposed to “the cars”, “the houses”) is often incorrectly referred to as the partitive form when people learn German. However, this does not form a complete partitive case as it is known in the Finnish language , but often corresponds to its functions. In many cases the partitive meaning can be clarified by the preposition “from” (or “from”): “I drink from the water .” (Atelic) in the Ggs. To “I drink the water .”, “I read from the book . ”In the Ggs.“ I read the book [finished] . ”(Telisch).
Function compared to the accusative:
- Partitive: I drink coffee. (= I take a sip of my coffee , I drink some of the coffee ).
- Accusative: I drink a / the coffee. (= I'll finish my coffee ).
- Partitive: I withdraw money. (to have cash again)
- Accusative: I withdraw the money. (the sum for a certain purchase - or: all the money available)
- In some places the term 'partitive' is used synonymously for the French or Italian partition article, which is sometimes misleading as it is not a case.
- In the Baltic-Slavic languages the genitive often fulfills the function of the partitive, so in Lithuanian duok man vandens (give me water, literally: of water) and in Latvian glāze tējas (a glass of tea, literally: glass of tea) in contrast to tējas glāze (tea glass, literally: tea's glass).
- In the Macedonian a prepositional phrase is used, for example. B. дај ми од тие јаболки (give me some of these apples).
- In Serbian, such a form is officially referred to as partitive genitive, e.g. B. Сипај кафе! (Pour coffee!).
- In some languages the partitive is used like a number , not a case.
