že

Saying That: Že

Level 2

Že links a verb such as vedieť, myslieť or povedať to what is known, thought or said: Viem, že prídeš (I know that you'll come). A comma normally stands before že.

How It Works

Where it appears. After verbs of saying, thinking, knowing and feeling, such as vedieť, myslieť si, povedať, hovoriť, dúfať, báť sa. It also follows adjectives and set phrases: Som rád, že si tu. Je dobré, že prišla. Je pravda, že...

Always said. English often drops that, as in I think you're right. Slovak keeps že: Myslím, že máš pravdu.

The comma. A comma normally comes before že; see commas before conjunctions. There is no comma between a and a second že: Povedal, že príde a že zavolá. When že is followed directly by another conjunction, no comma goes between them: Sľúbil, že ak bude mať čas, príde.

Tense. The clause keeps the tense of the original words. If someone said Som chorý, you report Povedal, že je chorý with the present tense, where English usually shifts to was. See reported speech.

že or či. Že states a fact or a claim. To report a yes-no question, use či (whether): Neviem, či príde.

Other uses. At the end of a sentence, že? asks the listener to agree; see tag questions. Že also appears in fixed phrases such as hovorí sa, že.

Examples (6)

  1. Viem, že prídeš.

    I know you'll come.

    Word by Word: I-know, that you-will-come.

  2. Myslím si, že máš pravdu.

    I think you're right.

    Word by Word: I-think myself, that you-have truth.

  3. Povedal, že je chorý.

    He said he was ill.

    Word by Word: He-said, that he-is ill.

    Je stays in the present because he said Som chorý.

  4. Som rada, že si tu.

    I'm glad you're here.

    Word by Word: I-am glad, that you-are here.

    A woman says rada; a man says rád.

  5. Dúfam, že zajtra nebude pršať.

    I hope it won't rain tomorrow.

    Word by Word: I-hope, that tomorrow will-not rain.

  6. Napísala mi, že mešká.

    She texted me that she's running late.

    Word by Word: She-wrote to-me, that she-is-late.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving out že, as English can leave out that.

    Myslím máš pravdu.
    Myslím, že máš pravdu.

    Slovak always needs že to introduce what someone thinks, knows or says.

  • Leaving out the comma before že.

    Viem že prídeš.
    Viem, že prídeš.

    A comma normally separates the main clause from the že clause.

  • Using že where the meaning is whether.

    Neviem, že príde.
    Neviem, či príde.

    If you mean I don't know whether he'll come, use či. Že presents the clause as a fact.

How It Connects

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

žeLevel 2Saying That: Že

Learn This First

Before Saying That: že, learn And, But and Or. že joins a clause to the main sentence, like a and ale join clauses.

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