tas, kas / tur, kur

Pairs Like Tas, Kas

Level 4

Latvian often says that which or there where: tas, kas (what, the thing that), tur, kur (where), tad, kad (when), tā, kā (the way). Tas, kas man patīk, ir mūzika (What I like is music).

How It Works

1. The common pairs. A pointing word in the main clause matches a question word that starts the second clause:

  • tas, kas: Tas, kas man patīk, ir mūzika. (What I like is music.)
  • tur, kur: Dzīvo tur, kur tev patīk. (Live where you like.)
  • tad, kad: Mēs brauksim tad, kad būs silts. (We will go when it is warm.)
  • tā, kā: Dari tā, kā es tev teicu. (Do it the way I told you.)
  • tāds, kāds and tik, cik: Viņš ir tāds, kāds viņš ir. (He is the way he is.) Ņem tik, cik vajag. (Take as much as you need.)

2. Two clauses, two cases. Tas and kas each change for their own job, just like relative kas and the question forms ko and kam:

  • Tas, ko tu saki, ir taisnība. (What you say is true.) Tas is the subject of ir; ko is the object of saki.
  • Es domāju par to, ko tu teici. (I am thinking about what you said.) Par needs the accusative to.
  • Es pateicos tam, kas man palīdzēja. (I thank the person who helped me.) Pateikties needs the dative tam; kas is the subject of palīdzēja.

For a person, tas, kas or tas, kurš both work, and a woman is tā, kura (see relative kurš and kura).

3. Commas. The explaining clause is set off with commas: one before kas, and another where the clause ends if the sentence goes on: Tas, kas man patīk, ir mūzika.

4. Clause first. In sayings the question-word clause often comes first: Kas meklē, tas atrod. (Whoever seeks, finds.)

Watch out: tas, kas points to a thing or person, while tas, ka points to a fact: Svarīgi ir tas, ka tu esi vesels (What matters is that you are healthy). See ka.

Examples (6)

  1. Tas, kas man patīk, ir mūzika.

    What I like is music.

    Word by Word: That, what to-me pleases, is music.

  2. Es daru to, ko gribu.

    I do what I want.

    Word by Word: I do that, what I-want.

    To is the object of daru, and ko is the object of gribu.

  3. Dzīvo tur, kur tev patīk.

    Live where you like.

    Word by Word: Live there, where to-you pleases.

  4. Mēs brauksim tad, kad būs silts.

    We will go when it is warm.

    Word by Word: We will-go then, when will-be warm.

    Tad, kad points to a time. The kad clause uses the future because the time is still to come.

  5. Dari tā, kā es tev teicu.

    Do it the way I told you.

    Word by Word: Do so, as I to-you told.

  6. Kas meklē, tas atrod.

    Whoever seeks, finds.

    Word by Word: Who seeks, that-one finds.

    A saying. The kas clause comes first, and tas picks it up in the main clause.

Common Mistakes

  • Keeping kas when the second clause needs an object.

    Es daru to, kas gribu.
    Es daru to, ko gribu.

    Kas has the case of its own clause. In ko gribu it is the object of gribu, so it takes the accusative ko.

  • Leaving out the comma after the pointing word.

    Tas kas man patīk, ir mūzika.
    Tas, kas man patīk, ir mūzika.

    The kas clause is a subordinate clause, so a comma goes before kas, and another one closes the clause.

  • Using kas where the clause states a fact.

    Svarīgi ir tas, kas tu esi vesels.
    Svarīgi ir tas, ka tu esi vesels.

    Kas stands for a thing or a person inside its clause. When the clause is a whole fact (that you are healthy), use ka.

How It Connects

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tas, kas / tur, kurLevel 4Pairs Like Tas, Kas

Learn This First

Tas, kas pairs a pointing word with a relative word.

Words in This Pattern

turkadkā