që
Relative Pronoun: 'Që'
Që is the universal relative pronoun in Albanian, translating to 'that', 'who', 'whom', or 'which'. It is indeclinable, meaning it never changes its form regardless of the gender or number of the noun it describes.
How It Works
The relative pronoun që is the most common way to link a relative clause to a noun. Here are the key rules for its use:
- Invariability: Që never changes its form. It does not agree in gender, number, or case with the noun it refers to.
- Placement: It follows the entire noun phrase. If a noun has an adjective, që comes after the adjective. Example: Libri i ri që bleva (The new book that I bought).
- Restrictive vs. Non-restrictive: Që is used for both types of clauses. While i cili is often preferred for non-restrictive (extra) information in formal writing, që is standard in everyday speech and modern literature.
- The Resumptive Clitic: When the noun is the direct object of the relative clause, a clitic often repeats it, but it is optional; when the noun is the indirect object, the clitic is normally included. Example: Djali që e takuam (The boy that we met [him]) or Djali që i dhashë librin (The boy that I gave the book to [him]).
- Preposition Constraint: You cannot use që immediately after a preposition. In those cases, you must use i cili.
- Sentential Relative (gjë që): To refer back to an entire sentence or idea rather than a single noun, use the phrase gjë që (equivalent to English 'which').
- Që vs. Se: Use që to refer to a noun, but use the conjunction se for general 'that' clauses (e.g., 'I know that...').
Examples (5)
- Libri që është mbi tavolinë është i imi.
The book that is on the table is mine.
Word by Word: Book-the that is on table is of mine.
Here 'që' acts as the subject of the relative clause. No extra clitic is needed.
- Vajza që e pashë dje është shoqja ime.
The girl that I saw yesterday is my friend.
Word by Word: Girl-the that her I-saw yesterday is friend-the my.
Because 'vajza' is the object of 'pashë' (saw), the accusative clitic 'e' (her) is required.
- Studenti që i dhashë librin u largua.
The student that I gave the book to left.
Word by Word: Student-the that him I-gave book-the was left.
Here 'që' refers to an indirect object, so the dative clitic 'i' (to him) is used.
- Makinat që janë të reja kushtojnë shumë.
The cars that are new cost a lot.
Word by Word: Cars-the that are of new cost much.
This shows 'që' used with a plural antecedent; the form of 'që' does not change.
- Ai erdhi vonë, gjë që na habiti.
He arrived late, which surprised us.
Word by Word: He came late, thing that us surprised.
The phrase 'gjë që' (literally 'thing that') is used to refer back to the entire preceding clause.
Common Mistakes
Omitting 'që' like in English.
Libri lexova është i mirë.Libri që lexova është i mirë.In English you can say 'The book I read', but Albanian needs a relative word here: që (or i cili). The clause cannot simply follow the noun.
Using 'që' after a preposition.
Letra për që shkrova...Letra për të cilën shkrova...Që cannot follow a preposition directly, so për që is not possible. Use i cili after the preposition (për të cilën), or keep që and put the preposition with a pronoun inside the clause.
Thinking the clitic 'e' is always needed in the relative clause.
Different MeaningBurri që pashë dje...Burri që e pashë dje...Both forms are correct. In speech the clitic 'e' often repeats the object, but 'Burri që pashë dje' is also standard.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use the relative pronoun 'që', learners must first be comfortable with the Albanian alphabet (specifically the vowel 'ë') and understand how basic clauses are structured. Since 'që' is indeclinable, it is simpler than other relative pronouns, but it requires a grasp of how subordinating conjunctions link a main clause to a dependent one.
- ëThe Vowel Ë
The relative pronoun 'që' contains the vowel 'ë', which is essential for its correct pronunciation and spelling.
Foundations - se / qëConjunctions 'Se' and 'Që'
The word 'që' functions both as a subordinating conjunction and a relative pronoun; understanding its role in linking clauses is fundamental.
Level 1 - The Nominative Case
Relative pronouns link back to nouns (antecedents); a basic understanding of noun cases and their roles in sentences is necessary to use relative clauses correctly.
Foundations
Related Patterns
- i ciliRelative Pronoun: 'I Cili'
'I cili' is the declinable alternative to 'që', required after prepositions and often used in formal writing to avoid ambiguity.
Level 2 - eAccusative Clitic 'E'
The clitic 'e' is frequently used as a resumptive pronoun within relative clauses introduced by 'që'.
Level 1 - i / eAdjective Link Particles
Relative clauses often describe nouns just like adjectives, which require these linking particles.
Foundations
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Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice që in Bubblegum
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