---
title: partitive — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «partitive» in the school dictionary: A word or phrase that shows a part of a whole or an amount, such as "some of", "a piece of", "a slice of", "a glass of". Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# partitive

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** word, du pain, slice, Some, confiture, you · **What happens:** show, mean, be, slice, use, share · **To what, where:** part, bread, partitive phrase, cake, partitive, jam

<!-- .vabout -->
«partitive» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [partitive in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/partitive.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: grammar — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A word or phrase that shows a part of a whole or an amount, such as "some of", "a piece of", "a slice of", "a glass of".

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:partitive:m1:1
# text = A word or phrase that shows a part of a whole or an amount, such as "some of", "a piece of", "a slice of", "a glass of".
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	phrase	phrase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
11	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	amount	amount	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
16	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	19	case	_	_
17	as	as	ADP	IN	_	16	fixed	_	_
18	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	14	conj	_	_
20	of	of	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
23	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nmod	_	_
26	of	of	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	31	punct	_	_
29	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	31	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	31	det	_	_
31	slice	slice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	appos	_	_
32	of	of	ADP	IN	_	31	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	31	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
35	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	37	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
36	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	37	det	_	_
37	glass	glass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nmod	_	_
38	of	of	ADP	IN	_	37	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
39	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	37	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
40	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | a word or phrase | a part of a whole amount |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent part=Recipient |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: French — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The partitive article "du, de la, des" meaning "some".

<!-- fold The tree, 9 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:partitive:m2:1
# text = The partitive article "du, de la, des" meaning "some".
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	partitive	partitive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	article	article	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	du	du	X	FW	Foreign=Yes	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
7	de	de	X	FW	Foreign=Yes	3	flat:foreign	_	_
8	la	la	X	FW	Foreign=Yes	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	des	des	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	_
12	meaning	meaning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
13	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"du pain" means "some bread".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:partitive:m2e:1
# text = "du pain" means "some bread".
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	du	du	X	FW	Foreign=Yes	3	compound	_	_
3	pain	pain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	8	det	_	_
8	bread	bread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | du pain | some bread |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bread=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"A slice of cake" is a partitive phrase.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:partitive:x1:1
# text = "A slice of cake" is a partitive phrase.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	slice	slice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	partitive	partitive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	phrase	phrase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a slice of cake | a partitive phrase |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **slice** *in a quote* |  |  | cake |  |  |  |  | nom slice «possession transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Some of the children" uses a partitive.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:partitive:x2:1
# text = "Some of the children" uses a partitive.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	7	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	partitive	partitive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Some | a partitive |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent partitive=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In French, "de la confiture" means "some jam" (a partitive).

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:partitive:x3:1
# text = In French, "de la confiture" means "some jam" (a partitive).
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	French	French	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	de	de	X	FW	Foreign=Yes	7	advmod	_	_
6	la	la	X	FW	Foreign=Yes	5	flat:foreign	_	_
7	confiture	confiture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
9	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	12	det	_	_
12	jam	jam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	_
14	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	partitive	partitive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | confiture | some jam |  |  |  | in French | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot jam=Theme in french=Attribute |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Use a partitive like "a piece of" with uncountable nouns: a piece of information.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:partitive:x4:1
# text = Use a partitive like "a piece of" with uncountable nouns: a piece of information.
1	Use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	partitive	partitive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	uncountable	uncountable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	nouns	noun	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	information	information	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | a partitive |  |  |  | like a piece of uncountable nouns | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"A bar of chocolate" is a partitive phrase.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:partitive:x5:1
# text = "A bar of chocolate" is a partitive phrase.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	bar	bar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	chocolate	chocolate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	partitive	partitive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	phrase	phrase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a bar of chocolate | a partitive phrase |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In partitive division, 12 sweets shared among 3 children gives 4 each.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:partitive:x6:1
# text = In partitive division, 12 sweets shared among 3 children gives 4 each.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	partitive	partitive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	division	division	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	sweets	sweet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
7	shared	share	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	among	among	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
11	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	obj	_	_
13	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **share** | participle |  | 12 sweets *not said here* |  |  |  | among 3 children | tree rules |
| 2 | **give** | present | 12 sweets | 4 |  | partitive division |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent 4=Theme |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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