How to Use Relative Pronouns and Clauses in Croatian

Understanding Relative Pronouns in Croatian

Relative pronouns are words that introduce relative clauses, which provide more information about a noun mentioned earlier in the sentence. In Croatian, relative pronouns agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they refer to.

Common Croatian Relative Pronouns

The most frequently used relative pronouns in Croatian are koji, koja, koje, and their declined forms. They correspond roughly to the English "who," "which," and "that."

• koji (masculine singular)
• koja (feminine singular)
• koje (neuter singular)
• koji (masculine plural)
• koje (feminine plural)
• koja (neuter plural)

Declension of 'koji'

The relative pronoun koji is declined according to gender, number, and case. Here is the nominative singular form for each gender:

• Masculine: koji
• Feminine: koja
• Neuter: koje

In other cases, the endings change to match the grammatical role in the relative clause. For example, the genitive masculine singular is kojeg, and the dative feminine singular is kojoj.

Forming Relative Clauses in Croatian

Relative clauses in Croatian are introduced by relative pronouns and provide additional information about a noun without starting a new sentence. They are similar to English relative clauses but require agreement in case, gender, and number.

Example Sentences

Here are some examples of relative clauses in Croatian with their English translations:

• Ovo je čovjek koji pjeva. - This is the man who is singing.
• Imam knjigu koju si mi dao. - I have the book that you gave me.
• To je mjesto gdje smo se upoznali. - That is the place where we met.

Note on 'gdje' and Other Relative Adverbs

In addition to relative pronouns, Croatian uses relative adverbs like gdje (where), kada (when), and zašto (why) to introduce relative clauses related to place, time, and reason.

Tips for Using Relative Pronouns and Clauses

• Always match the relative pronoun to the gender and number of the noun it refers to.
• Use the correct case of the relative pronoun depending on its function in the relative clause.
• Remember that relative clauses provide extra information and are usually set off by commas if non-restrictive.
• Practice by identifying relative clauses in Croatian texts and translating them to understand their structure.