i cili

Relative Pronoun: 'I Cili'

Level 2

The relative pronoun i cili connects clauses by referring back to a noun. Unlike the simple që, it is primarily used in formal writing and changes its form to match the gender and number of the noun it describes, while its case depends on its role in the sub-clause.

How It Works

The relative pronoun i cili consists of a linking article (i, e, të, së) and the stem cil-. It is more formal than që and is often used to avoid ambiguity or after prepositions.

1. Agreement Rules:

  • Gender and Number: Must match the antecedent (the noun it refers to).
  • Case: Determined by its grammatical function within the relative clause.

2. Declension Table:

  • Nominative: i cili (M.Sg.), e cila (F.Sg.), të cilët (M.Pl.), të cilat (F.Pl.)
  • Accusative: të cilin (M.Sg.), të cilën (F.Sg.), të cilët (M.Pl.), të cilat (F.Pl.)
  • Genitive/Dative/Ablative: të cilit (M.Sg.), së cilës (F.Sg.), të cilëve (M.Pl.), të cilave (F.Pl.)

Note: In the genitive case (possession), the construction uses a linking article followed by the pronoun in the genitive form. The pronoun part (të cilit, së cilës, etc.) must agree with the antecedent, while the preceding linking article (i/e/të/së) agrees with the possessed noun.
Examples: djali, libri i të cilit... (the boy, whose book...); vajza, libri i së cilës... (the girl, whose book...).

3. Mandatory Clitic Doubling:
When i cili functions as an object, you must use clitic doubling or dative clitics.
Example: Miku, të cilit i dhashë librin. (The friend, to whom I gave the book.)

4. Mandatory Use with Prepositions:
When a relative clause begins with a preposition like me or për, i cili is required.
Example: Libri, për të cilin po flasim, është i ri.

5. Punctuation:
In Standard Albanian, relative clauses introduced by i cili must always be preceded by a comma, regardless of whether the information is essential or additional.

6. Relative vs. Interrogative:
Do not confuse this with the interrogative pronoun cili. The relative pronoun requires the linking article in the nominative, whereas the question word usually appears without it (e.g., Cili djalë erdhi?).

Examples (4)

  1. Kjo është vajza e cila fitoi garën.

    This is the girl who won the race.

    Word by Word: This is girl-the who won race-the.

    Here 'e cila' is feminine singular nominative, agreeing with 'vajza' (the girl).

  2. Shtëpia në të cilën banoj është e vjetër.

    The house in which I live is old.

    Word by Word: House-the in which I-live is of old.

    After the preposition 'në', we must use 'të cilën' (feminine accusative) to refer to 'shtëpia'.

  3. Studentët, të cilëve u dhashë librat, janë këtu.

    The students, to whom I gave the books, are here.

    Word by Word: Students-the, to-whom them I-gave books-the, are here.

    This uses the dative plural form 'të cilëve' because the verb 'dhashë' (gave) requires a dative object.

  4. Ai është djali me të cilin punoj.

    He is the boy with whom I work.

    Word by Word: He is boy-the with whom I-work.

    The preposition 'me' requires the accusative form 'të cilin' for a masculine singular noun.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'që' after a preposition.

    Libri për që fola.
    Libri për të cilin fola.

    In Standard Albanian, 'që' cannot follow a preposition. You must use the appropriate case of 'i cili'.

  • Failing to match the gender of the article.

    Vajza i cili erdhi.
    Vajza e cila erdhi.

    The linking article must match the noun. Since 'vajza' is feminine, you must use 'e cila', not the masculine 'i cili'.

  • Using the subject form 'i cili' for an object.

    Djali i cili pashë dje.
    Djali të cilin pashë dje.

    Inside the clause, 'djali' is the object of 'pashë', so the relative pronoun takes the object form 'të cilin'. A clitic 'e' before the verb is possible but not required here (see clitic doubling).

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

i ciliLevel 2Relative Pronoun: 'I Cili'

Learn This First

To learn the relative pronoun 'i cili', you must first understand the interrogative 'cili' (which provides the base forms) and the system of adjectival link particles (i/e/të/së) that precede it. Additionally, because 'i cili' is a declinable pronoun, a foundational understanding of Albanian cases is necessary to correctly apply its gender, number, and case agreement.

Words in This Pattern