Granting exclusivity for a partial

In this case, you may want to drop them a note, letting them know the time period for the exclusivity has expired, then return to querying and permitting other agents to see it.

You're trying to be a pro, aren't you?

Well if the agent is as great as you think they are, then they're also a pro and will not take offense at your polite notification that the period of exclusivity has expired.

Wow. I would never give an agent exclusivity on a partial--and I've never heard of an agent asking for one (but I'm not entirely surprised).

If the agent goes past he time they asked for, then keep querying. And in the future if they ask for an exclusive partial, tell them you have other queries/partials out there already, which you should have.

Yup. Here's Miss Snark's take on exclusives:

http://misssnark.blogspot.com/2006/04/exclusives-are-lazy-ass-way-to-do.html

Hi Barber! Welcome to AW! Asking for an exclusive isn't entirely unheard of, but it's not very common. I can see the agent's side in that they don't want to spend their time reading your MS only to find out that you've signed a deal with someone else while they were reading it over. I think that's the basic idea behind asking for an exclusive. That said, you are by no means obligated to grant an exclusive. It's understood that you will be querying multiple agents and you can always politely turn it down by saying there are other agents reading your partial already, but you will make sure to notify the agent if an offer is on the table.

That's standard industry etiquette if you get an offer-you let everyone else who has a partial or full know that you have an offer and give them time (usually a few days) to read and make their own offer if they so choose.

As for this current agent, just give a nudge that the time period is passed and you will now continue to query. Though you're already doing that, so good for you!