той, хто / те, що
Correlative Relative Constructions
Ukrainian uses correlative pairs like той, хто (the one who) and те, що (that which) to create relative clauses without a specific noun. They act as a 'syntactic anchor' for the sentence.
How It Works
Correlative constructions are essential for expressing general truths, proverbs, and complex logical links.
1. The Components
- той, хто (and variants та, хто / ті, хто): Used for people. Note that хто always takes a singular verb, even if the antecedent is plural. Crucially, in the past tense, хто also requires the masculine gender, regardless of the gender or number of the antecedent. Example: Ті, хто прийшов... (Those who arrived...), Та, хто прийшов... (The woman who arrived...).
- той, який (and variants ті, які): An alternative for people or things. Unlike хто, який agrees in number and gender with the antecedent. Example: Ті, які знають... (Those who know...).
- те, що: Used for things, abstract ideas, or entire facts. Example: Те, що він сказав... (What/The fact that he said...).
2. Independent Declension
Both parts of the pair decline independently to match their specific grammatical roles in their respective clauses. The demonstrative (той/те) takes the case required by the main verb, while the relative pronoun (хто/що/який) takes the case required by the verb inside the dependent clause.
Example: Я допоміг тому (dative), хто (nominative) просив. (I helped the one who asked).
3. Preposition Placement
Prepositions are placed before whichever pronoun they govern. If the main verb requires a preposition, it precedes the demonstrative. If the verb in the relative clause requires a preposition, it precedes the relative pronoun.
Example 1: Я не згоден з тим, що ви кажете. (I don't agree with what you are saying).
Example 2: Це той, про кого я говорив. (This is the one about whom I spoke).
4. Punctuation
In Ukrainian, a comma is always mandatory between the two parts of the construction.
5. те, що vs. simple що
Use що for simple reported speech (I know that...). Use те, що when the clause acts as a subject/object or when the main verb requires a specific case or preposition. For example, with подобатися, you must use the dative form: Мені не подобається те, що він робить.
Examples (5)
- Той, хто шукає, завжди знаходить.
He who seeks always finds.
Word by Word: That [one], who seeks, always finds.
A classic proverb where 'той' is the subject of the main clause and 'хто' is the subject of the relative clause.
- Я не згоден з тим, що ви кажете.
I don't agree with what you are saying.
Word by Word: I not agree with that, what you say.
Here, 'тим' is in the instrumental case because the verb 'згоден з' requires it, while 'що' is the object of 'кажете'.
- Ті, хто закінчив тест, можуть іти.
Those who finished the test may go.
Word by Word: Those, who finished test, can go.
The plural 'ті' is used to refer to a group of people.
- Мене дивує те, що вона не прийшла.
The fact that she didn't come surprises me.
Word by Word: Me surprises that, what she not came.
Using 'те, що' to turn an entire fact into the subject of the sentence.
- Ми дякуємо тому, хто нам допоміг.
We thank the one who helped us.
Word by Word: We thank that [one], who us helped.
'Тому' is in the dative case because 'дякувати' requires the dative, while 'хто' remains nominative as the subject of the help.
Common Mistakes
Omitting the comma between the two parts.
Той хто знає мовчить.Той, хто знає, мовчить.In Ukrainian, relative clauses must always be set off by commas.
Using 'кому' instead of 'хто'.
Different MeaningЯ вірю тому, кому це сказав.Я вірю тому, хто це сказав.'Я вірю тому, кому це сказав' is correct, but it means 'I believe the person I told this to'. If the person is the one who said it, use 'хто' (Nominative).
Using plural verb agreement with 'хто'.
Ті, хто знають правду...Ті, хто знає правду...Even if the demonstrative 'ті' is plural, the relative pronoun 'хто' is grammatically singular, so the standard takes a singular verb (a plural verb is heard in speech).
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand correlative constructions like 'той, хто' and 'те, що', learners must first be familiar with demonstrative pronouns (той, те) and the basic question/relative words (хто, що) that serve as the building blocks for these complex sentences.
- цей/тойDemonstrative Pronoun Agreement
The construction relies on the demonstrative pronoun 'той' (that one) as the head of the main clause.
Level 2 - хтоQuestion Word Хто
The relative clause is introduced by the relative pronoun 'хто' (who), which must be understood as a linking word.
Level 1 - щоQuestion Word Що
The relative clause is introduced by the relative pronoun 'що' (what/that), which must be understood as a linking word.
Level 1
Related Patterns
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Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice той, хто / те, що in Bubblegum
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