onaj koji / ono što
The One Who and What
Use onaj koji for “the one who/which” and ono što for “what” or “that which.” Their case forms fit the roles they play.
How It Works
Onaj koji prvi stigne refers to a person identifiable by a relative clause. Change gender and number when needed: ona koja, oni koji. The head can also appear in another case: Pomoći ću onomu koji pita.
Ono što tražiš points to a thing or content without naming it. Što is not a masculine or feminine replacement for koji: compare žena koja govori with ono što govori, “what she says.”
Case can become visible inside the clause: ono o čemu govorimo. Do not preserve što unchanged after every preposition; čemu is the locative form required by o here.
Examples (3)
- Neka se javi onaj koji ima ključ.
Whoever has the key should speak up.
- Uzmi ono što ti treba.
Take what you need.
- Razgovaramo o onome što se dogodilo.
We are talking about what happened.
How It Connects
Learn This First
A demonstrative supplies the antecedent for a relative construction.
Related Patterns
- Free Relative tko / štoWhoever and What as a Clause
Compare free relatives without an overt demonstrative.
Level 5 - Preposition + kojiRelative Pronouns with Prepositions
Track case inside the relative clause.
Level 4 - Identifying or Adding Information
Decide whether a relative identifies its referent.
Level 6
Words in This Pattern
Practice onaj koji / ono što in Bubblegum
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