How to Use Relative Clauses and Relative Pronouns in Slovak

Understanding Relative Clauses in Slovak

Relative clauses are subordinate clauses that provide additional information about a noun in the main clause. In Slovak, as in English, they help to combine two sentences into one, making speech and writing more fluid and descriptive.

What Are Relative Pronouns?

Relative pronouns introduce relative clauses and refer back to a noun mentioned earlier. In Slovak, the most common relative pronouns are ktorý (which/who/that), čo (what/which), and occasionally kto (who). These pronouns agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they refer to.

The Slovak Relative Pronoun 'ktorý'

The pronoun ktorý is the most frequently used relative pronoun in Slovak. It corresponds to English 'who', 'which', or 'that' depending on the context. It changes form according to gender (masculine, feminine, neuter), number (singular, plural), and case (nominative, accusative, genitive, dative, locative, instrumental).

For example, in the sentence: Vidím muža, ktorý beží. (I see the man who is running), ktorý refers to muža (man) and agrees with it in gender, number, and case.

Forms of 'ktorý' in Singular and Plural

• Masculine singular: ktorý, ktorého, ktorému, ktorým, ktorom
• Feminine singular: ktorá, ktorej, ktorej, ktorú, ktorej
• Neuter singular: ktoré, ktorého, ktorému, ktorým, ktorom
• Masculine plural: ktorí, ktorých, ktorým, ktorými, ktorých
• Feminine plural: ktoré, ktorých, ktorým, ktorými, ktorých
• Neuter plural: ktoré, ktorých, ktorým, ktorými, ktorých

Using 'čo' as a Relative Pronoun

The pronoun čo is used as a relative pronoun when referring to an entire clause or an indefinite pronoun like všetko (everything) or nič (nothing). It can be translated as 'what' or 'which' in English.

Example: Urobil som všetko, čo som mohol. (I did everything that I could.)

Examples of Relative Clauses in Slovak

• To je žena, ktorá učí angličtinu. (That is the woman who teaches English.)
• Mám knihu, ktorú si chcel prečítať. (I have the book that you wanted to read.)
• Vidím dom, v ktorom býva môj priateľ. (I see the house in which my friend lives.)
• Povedal mi niečo, čo ma prekvapilo. (He told me something that surprised me.)

Tips for English Speakers Learning Slovak Relative Clauses

1. Pay attention to the gender, number, and case of the noun the relative pronoun refers to, as the pronoun must agree with it.

2. Practice the declension of ktorý to become comfortable with its different forms.

3. Remember that čo is used when referring to things like 'everything' or 'something' rather than specific nouns.

4. Use relative clauses to make your Slovak more natural and fluent, combining ideas smoothly.