What does partitive mean?
Partitive is a grammatical term for a form or construction that identifies a portion of a larger whole rather than naming the whole or an indivisible item. The best-known partitive patterns are English genitives such as a bowl of rice, two pints of milk, and a piece of cake. Unlike a simple plural, which normally indicates multiple items, a partitive construction links a measure, container, or portion word to the noun being measured or divided. The adjective partitive is chiefly used in descriptions of grammar and linguistics, where it classifies this way of expressing quantity; it is not normally needed in everyday conversation. As a noun, a partitive can refer to such a form or construction. The term comes from Latin and is related to a family including partial, partition, portion, and participle. Knowing partitive helps explain why expressions such as a cup of tea and a slice of bread are grammatically distinctive.
Denoting or relating to a grammatical form or construction that expresses a portion of a larger whole, especially a partitive genitive.
"The phrase “two cups of coffee” has a partitive structure."
Primarily used in grammatical and linguistic analysis.
A grammatical word or construction that expresses a portion of a larger whole.
"The noun “piece” functions as a partitive in “a piece of cake.”"
Less common than the adjective and chiefly found in specialist writing.
The regular plural refers to multiple partitive words or constructions.
"Several partitives appear in that grammar textbook."
Partitive is grammar’s way of expressing what comes in portions: a pint of milk, a slice of bread, a bowl of rice.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does partitive come from?
English borrowed partitive from Latin partitīvus, meaning “of or relating to a part” or “distributive.” The Latin word was derived from partītus, the past participle of partīrī, “to divide,” which comes from pars, “part.” Its grammatical use developed from this general sense of division into parts to the specialized classification of constructions expressing portions of a larger whole.
Related word forms
How partitive is actually used
This is chiefly formal grammatical or linguistic terminology. It is more common in academic descriptions of language than in everyday speech, where ordinary nouns such as “bowl” or “slice” are used without technical labels.
Easily confused with partitive
Partial means incomplete or belonging to only one part of something, whereas partitive is a grammatical term for expressing a portion of a larger whole.