Relative Clauses with Prepositions and Cases
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Relative clauses use a preposition followed by the relative pronoun 'koji', which must match the preposition's required grammatical case.
- Identify the gender/number of the noun being described (the antecedent).
- Determine which case the preposition requires (e.g., 's' requires Instrumental).
- Decline 'koji' to match that specific gender, number, and case.
- Example: 'Prijatelj s kojim radim' (The friend with whom I work).
Declension of the Relative Pronoun 'koji' (Singular)
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Nominative
|
koji
|
koja
|
koje
|
|
Genitive
|
kojeg(a)
|
koje
|
kojeg(a)
|
|
Dative
|
kojem(u)
|
kojoj
|
kojem(u)
|
|
Accusative (Inanimate)
|
koji
|
koju
|
koje
|
|
Accusative (Animate)
|
kojeg(a)
|
koju
|
koje
|
|
Vocative
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Locative
|
kojem(u)
|
kojoj
|
kojem(u)
|
|
Instrumental
|
kojim
|
kojom
|
kojim
|
Plural Declension of 'koji'
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Nominative
|
koji
|
koje
|
koja
|
|
Genitive
|
kojih
|
kojih
|
kojih
|
|
Dative
|
kojima
|
kojima
|
kojima
|
|
Accusative
|
koje
|
koje
|
koja
|
|
Locative
|
kojima
|
kojima
|
kojima
|
|
Instrumental
|
kojima
|
kojima
|
kojima
|
Meanings
A relative clause provides extra information about a noun. When that information involves a preposition (like 'about', 'with', or 'in'), the relative pronoun 'koji' must follow that preposition and change its ending based on the case the preposition demands.
Standard Relative with 'koji'
Using 'koji' (which/who) to link a sub-clause to a main noun using a preposition.
“Čovjek o kojem pričamo je ovdje.”
“Knjiga iz koje učim je nova.”
Possessive Relative with 'čiji'
Using 'čiji' (whose) after a preposition to indicate possession within the relative clause.
“Dijete u čijoj se kući igramo je veselo.”
“Tvrtka s čijim direktorom razgovaram je uspješna.”
Indefinite Relative with 'tko/što'
Using 'tko' (who) or 'što' (what) after prepositions when there is no specific noun antecedent.
“Ne znam o čemu pričaš.”
“Pronašao sam ono za čim sam tragao.”
Reference Table
| Preposition | Case Required | Example (Masc. Sing.) | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
|
o
|
Locative
|
o kojem
|
about which
|
|
s / sa
|
Instrumental
|
s kojim
|
with which
|
|
u (position)
|
Locative
|
u kojem
|
in which
|
|
u (motion)
|
Accusative
|
u koji
|
into which
|
|
bez
|
Genitive
|
bez kojeg
|
without which
|
|
za
|
Accusative
|
za koji
|
for which
|
|
na (position)
|
Locative
|
na kojem
|
on which
|
|
iz
|
Genitive
|
iz kojeg
|
from which
|
طيف الرسمية
Gospodin s kojim sam vodio razgovor. (Describing a past interaction)
Čovjek s kojim sam razgovarao. (Describing a past interaction)
Tip s kojim sam pričao. (Describing a past interaction)
Lik što sam s njim brijao. (Describing a past interaction)
The Relative Clause Bridge
Antecedent
- Čovjek The man (Masc)
- Žena The woman (Fem)
Preposition
- s (with) + Instrumental
- o (about) + Locative
Motion vs. Position in Relative Clauses
Choosing the Right 'Koji'
What is the gender of the noun?
Is there a preposition?
Is it plural?
أمثلة حسب المستوى
To je prijatelj s kojim idem u školu.
That is the friend with whom I go to school.
Ovo je torba u kojoj je knjiga.
This is the bag in which the book is.
To je grad u koji putujem.
That is the city to which I am traveling.
On je dječak o kojem pričam.
He is the boy about whom I am talking.
Tražim restoran u kojem rade moji roditelji.
I am looking for the restaurant in which my parents work.
Ovo je olovka s kojom pišem pismo.
This is the pen with which I am writing a letter.
To su ljudi s kojima živim.
Those are the people with whom I live.
Knjiga o kojoj čitaš je jako stara.
The book about which you are reading is very old.
Film o kojem smo raspravljali bio je dosadan.
The movie about which we discussed was boring.
Zgrada pred kojom se nalazimo je muzej.
The building in front of which we are located is a museum.
To je kolega bez kojeg ne mogu završiti projekt.
That is the colleague without whom I cannot finish the project.
Pronašao sam ključeve za kojima sam tragao.
I found the keys for which I was searching.
Situacija u kojoj se nalazimo zahtijeva brzu reakciju.
The situation in which we find ourselves requires a quick reaction.
Ovo je projekt na kojem radim već tri mjeseca.
This is the project on which I have been working for three months.
Osoba s čijim sam bratom razgovarao je tvoja šefica.
The person with whose brother I talked is your boss.
To je problem o kojemu ne želim više polemizirati.
That is a problem about which I no longer want to argue.
Način na koji on rješava probleme je fascinantan.
The way in which he solves problems is fascinating.
Okolnosti pod kojima je ugovor potpisan su sumnjive.
The circumstances under which the contract was signed are suspicious.
To je ideal za koji su se mnogi borili kroz povijest.
That is the ideal for which many fought throughout history.
Postoji granica do koje se može tolerirati takvo ponašanje.
There is a limit up to which such behavior can be tolerated.
U svjetlu činjenica o kojima je bilo riječi, moramo revidirati plan.
In light of the facts that were discussed, we must revise the plan.
To je hipoteza na temelju koje je izgrađena cijela teorija.
That is the hypothesis on the basis of which the entire theory was built.
On je čovjek s čijim se stavovima duboko ne slažem.
He is a man with whose views I deeply disagree.
Pitanje povodom kojeg smo se sastali ostaje otvoreno.
The question regarding which we met remains open.
سهل الخلط
Learners confuse motion (Accusative) and position (Locative) when using the preposition 'u'.
Using 'koji' to show possession instead of 'čiji'.
Using 'što' as a relative pronoun for specific nouns.
أخطاء شائعة
Čovjek s koji radim.
Čovjek s kojim radim.
Kuća u koja živim.
Kuća u kojoj živim.
Prijatelj o koji pričam.
Prijatelj o kojem pričam.
Torba u koji je knjiga.
Torba u kojoj je knjiga.
Grad u koji živim.
Grad u kojem živim.
Ljudi s koji putujem.
Ljudi s kojima putujem.
Knjiga iz koje čitam je na stol.
Knjiga iz koje čitam je na stolu.
To je žena čiji sam bratom pričao.
To je žena s čijim sam bratom pričao.
Ovo je problem o kojeg mislim.
Ovo je problem o kojem mislim.
Restoran u kojeg idemo.
Restoran u koji idemo.
Okolnosti u kojima je on došao.
Okolnosti pod kojima je on došao.
Čovjek što sam s njim pričao.
Čovjek s kojim sam pričao.
أنماط الجُمل
To je ___ u kojem ___.
Ovo je ___ s kojom ___.
Tražim ___ o kojem ___.
Postoje ___ s kojima ___.
Real World Usage
Ovo je tim s kojim sam postigao najbolje rezultate.
To je onaj kafić u kojem smo bili jučer.
Tražim peron s kojeg polazi vlak za Split.
Teorija o kojoj se raspravlja u ovom radu...
Želim pizzu na kojoj nema maslina.
Ovo je ekipa s kojom se najbolje zabavljam!
The 'S' Rule
Avoid Dangling Prepositions
Gender First
Formal 'O'
Smart Tips
Immediately check the gender of the noun you just mentioned to pick the right 'koji' ending.
Ask yourself: Is there movement? If yes, use 'u koji' (Accusative). If staying still, use 'u kojem' (Locative).
Use the longer case endings like '-oga' or '-emu' (e.g., 'kojega', 'kojemu').
Remember to add an 'a' to the preposition (sa) if 'koji' is followed by a word starting with a difficult cluster.
النطق
Prepositional Stress
Prepositions like 'u', 'na', 'o' are usually unstressed and 'lean' on the following word (proclitics). The stress often shifts to the first syllable of 'koji'.
Sa vs S
Use 'sa' instead of 's' if the next word starts with s, z, š, ž, or a difficult consonant cluster to make it easier to pronounce.
Relative Clause Dip
Čovjek, (dip) s kojim radim, (rise) je ljubazan.
The relative clause is often set off by commas in writing and a slight drop in pitch in speech.
احفظها
وسيلة تذكّر
Koji matches the Noun in gender, but the Preposition is the Boss of the case!
ربط بصري
Imagine a bridge where the first pillar is the Noun (e.g., a Woman) and the second pillar is the Verb. The bridge itself is the Preposition holding a sign that says 'Instrumental Case' for the pronoun 'Koji' to pass.
Rhyme
With 's' use 'kojim', with 'o' use 'kojem', match the gender and you'll enjoy 'em!
Story
A man (Čovjek) went to a meeting (na sastanak). The meeting he went TO (na koji je išao) was about a project (o projektu). The project ABOUT which he spoke (o kojem je pričao) was with a colleague (s kolegom). The colleague WITH whom he worked (s kojim je radio) was very happy.
Word Web
تحدٍّ
Look around your room. Pick 3 objects and describe them using a relative clause with a preposition (e.g., 'The chair on which I sit', 'The box in which I keep my pens').
ملاحظات ثقافية
In Zagreb (Kajkavian influence), you'll hear 'koji' used everywhere, but in Dalmatia (Chakavian influence), 'što' is very common as a universal relative. Standard Croatian strictly requires 'koji' with prepositions.
When referring to someone formally (Vi), the relative pronoun remains singular if the person is one, but the verb in the relative clause must be plural.
In older literature, you might see 'kojega' instead of 'kojeg'. The longer form is considered more formal or poetic.
The relative pronoun 'koji' comes from the Proto-Slavic '*kyjь', which was a combination of an interrogative base and a demonstrative suffix.
بدايات محادثة
Možeš li mi reći nešto o gradu u kojem si rođen?
Postoji li neka osoba s kojom bi volio popiti kavu?
Opiši projekt na kojem trenutno radiš.
Koje su to vrijednosti za koje se vrijedi boriti u životu?
مواضيع للكتابة اليومية
أخطاء شائعة
Test Yourself
To je čovjek s ___ radim.
Knjiga ___ pričamo je na stolu. (about which)
Find and fix the mistake:
Grad u koji živim je jako lijep.
Imam prijatelja. S njim idem na more.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
To su problemi ___ se bavimo.
To je žena u ___ kući živimo.
Čovjek što sam s njim pričao je moj ujak.
Score: /8
تمارين تطبيقية
8 exercisesTo je čovjek s ___ radim.
Knjiga ___ pričamo je na stolu. (about which)
Find and fix the mistake:
Grad u koji živim je jako lijep.
Imam prijatelja. S njim idem na more.
1. bez, 2. o, 3. s, 4. za
To su problemi ___ se bavimo.
To je žena u ___ kući živimo.
Čovjek što sam s njim pričao je moj ujak.
Score: /8
الأسئلة الشائعة (8)
Yes, for locations, 'gdje' (where) is a very common and correct alternative to 'u kojem' or 'u kojoj'.
They are the same. 'Kojega' is the longer form, often used in formal writing or for better rhythm in a sentence.
In Croatian, relative clauses that provide essential or non-essential information are typically set off by commas.
Because the preposition 's' (with) demands the Instrumental case. 'Koji' must change to 'kojim' to match.
You use 'onaj' as the antecedent: 'Onaj kojeg čekam' or 'Ona koju čekam'.
Only if the antecedent is an abstract concept (e.g., 'Sve što želim') or a whole sentence. For specific nouns, use 'koji'.
You must repeat the relative pronoun or structure the sentence clearly: 'Čovjek o kojem i s kojim pričam'.
Yes, 'čiji' can mean 'whose' for people or 'of which' for objects: 'Grad čije su ulice uske' (The city whose streets are narrow).
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
who/which/that + preposition
Croatian prepositions never 'dangle' at the end of the clause.
Relativpronomen mit Präpositionen
Croatian has more cases (7) than German (4), leading to more ending variations.
el cual / quien + preposición
Croatian changes the pronoun's ending for every case, not just gender/number.
lequel / dont
Croatian uses a single pronoun 'koji' for most prepositional relative clauses.
الذي (alladhi) + preposition
Standard Croatian integrates the case into the relative pronoun itself.
的 (de) structure
Croatian relative clauses follow the noun and involve complex declension.
