Partitive (Noun)
Meaning
Word (such a `some' or `less') that is used to indicate a part as distinct from a whole.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The word "some" is a partitive that indicates a portion of a larger quantity.
- In the sentence "I ate some of the cake", "some" is a partitive that distinguishes a part from the whole.
- The phrase "a few of" is a partitive that is used to indicate a small portion of a larger group.
- In many languages, partitives are used to indicate that a noun is being referred to as a part of a larger whole.
- The word "less" can also be used as a partitive to indicate a smaller amount of something.