який (відносний)

Relative Clauses with Який

Level 3Sounds Like âkij u vídnosnomu rečenní

The relative pronoun який (which/who/that) connects a main sentence to a description. It changes its form to match the noun it describes in gender and number, but its case depends on its job inside the description.

How It Works

Relative clauses provide extra information about a noun (the antecedent). In Ukrainian, який is the most common way to start these clauses.

1. The Agreement Rule:

  • Gender and Number: Must match the noun being described. If you describe a 'книга' (fem. sing.), you must use a feminine singular form of який (яка, якої, яку, etc.).
  • Case: Must match the function of the pronoun within the relative clause. If the pronoun is the object of the verb in the clause, it goes in the accusative case.

2. Versatility:
Unlike English, which uses 'who' for people and 'which' for things, Ukrainian uses який for both. It is perfectly natural to say 'the man which' (чоловік, який) in Ukrainian.

3. Prepositions:
If the relative clause needs a preposition, it must come before the pronoun. Ukrainian never leaves prepositions at the end of a sentence. For example: 'The house I live in' becomes 'The house in which I live' (Будинок, у якому я живу).

4. Punctuation:
In Ukrainian, relative clauses are always separated by commas. You must place a comma before який.

Examples (4)

  1. Студент, який стоїть там, мій брат.

    The student who is standing there is my brother.

    Word by Word: Student, who stands there, [is] my brother.

    'Який' is masculine singular to match 'студент' and nominative because it is the subject of 'стоїть' (stands).

  2. Книга, яку я купив, дуже цікава.

    The book that I bought is very interesting.

    Word by Word: Book, which I bought, [is] very interesting.

    'Яку' is feminine singular to match 'книга' but accusative because it is the direct object of 'купив' (bought).

  3. Місто, в якому я народився, велике.

    The city in which I was born is big.

    Word by Word: City, in which I was born, [is] big.

    'Якому' is neuter singular to match 'місто' and locative because it follows the preposition 'в'.

  4. Друзі, яким я зателефонував, уже прийшли.

    The friends whom I called have already arrived.

    Word by Word: Friends, to whom I called, already arrived.

    'Яким' is plural to match 'друзі' and dative because the verb 'зателефонувати' requires the dative case for the recipient.

Common Mistakes

  • Matching the case of 'який' to the antecedent instead of its role in the clause.

    Я бачу дівчину, яку живе тут.
    Я бачу дівчину, яка живе тут.

    Even though 'дівчину' is accusative in the main clause, the pronoun is the subject of 'живе' (lives) in the relative clause, so it must be nominative (яка).

  • Stranding a preposition at the end of the clause.

    Це жінка, яку я говорив з.
    Це жінка, з якою я говорив.

    Prepositions must always precede the relative pronoun. Since 'з' (with) requires the instrumental case, 'який' becomes 'якою'.

  • Omitting the comma before the relative clause.

    Ось будинок який ми купили.
    Ось будинок, який ми купили.

    In Ukrainian, relative clauses must always be set off by commas, regardless of whether they are 'defining' or 'non-defining'.

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який (відносний)Level 3Relative Clauses with Який

Learn This First

To use 'який' in relative clauses, a learner must first be familiar with its form as an interrogative pronoun. Because 'який' agrees with its antecedent in gender and number but takes the case required by its function in the sub-clause, the learner needs a solid grasp of adjective declension and basic sentence structure to correctly apply case endings.

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який