A2 Relative Clauses 5 min read आसान

रूसी रिलेटिव क्लॉज़: 'जो' और 'जिसे' का उपयोग (kotoryy)

Use kotoryy to link descriptions to nouns, matching gender/number with the noun and case with the action.
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इसका अभ्यास करें

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'kotoryy' to connect two ideas by describing a noun, matching the gender and number of that noun.

  • 1. 'Kotoryy' acts like 'who', 'which', or 'that' in English. Example: 'Книга, которая лежит на столе.'
  • 2. It must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes. Example: 'Друг, который пришёл.'
  • 3. The case of 'kotoryy' depends on its role inside the relative clause. Example: 'Дом, в котором я живу.'
Noun + [comma] + Kotoryy (matching gender/number) + [rest of clause]

Overview

Have you ever been stuck trying to describe that one specific Netflix show but forgot the title? Or maybe you're trying to tell a friend about the guy you saw on TikTok? In English, we use who, which, or that to connect these ideas.
In Russian, we have one heavy-lifter word for this: kotoryy. It is the ultimate connector. It turns two boring sentences into one sophisticated thought.
Without it, you sound like a robot. With it, you sound like someone who actually knows their way around a Russian conversation. It acts like a bridge between a noun and more information about that noun.
Think of it as a chameleon. It changes its shape to match the person or thing you are talking about. It is one of the most useful tools in your A2 toolkit.
It makes your stories flow. It makes your descriptions precise. It is the difference between
I have a phone
and
I have a phone that takes amazing photos.

How This Grammar Works

Think of kotoryy as a spy. It goes into the second part of your sentence to represent the noun from the first part. But here is the catch: it has to blend in.
It takes its gender and number from the noun it is replacing. If you are talking about a devushka (girl), kotoryy becomes feminine. If you are talking about druz'ya (friends), it becomes plural.
However, its case is decided by what it is doing in its own little clause. If the girl is the one doing the action, use the nominative. If you are buying the girl a coffee, use the dative.
It’s a bit of a mental workout at first. You are basically juggling two sentences at once. Don't worry, even Russians trip over this if they talk too fast after too much espresso.
The most important thing to remember is that the comma is not optional. In Russian, the comma before kotoryy is like the seatbelt in an Uber—you just have to wear it.

Formation Pattern

1
To build a sentence with kotoryy, follow these four steps:
2
Identify the Anchor Noun: Find the noun in the first sentence you want to describe. (e.g., kniga - book).
3
Match Gender and Number: Determine if that noun is masculine, feminine, neuter, or plural. (kniga is feminine singular).
4
Determine the Case: Look at the second part of the sentence. What is the who/which doing there? Is it the subject? The object? Is it being possessed? (e.g.,
The book that I am reading
->
I am reading [the book]
-> Accusative).
5
Combine with a Comma: Place a comma immediately before the kotoryy clause starts.
6
Example: Vot kniga, kotoruyu ya chitayu. (Here is the book that I am reading). Kniga is feminine, so we use the feminine base. Since
I am reading it,
we use the Accusative case kotoruyu.

When To Use It

You use kotoryy whenever you need to add a which, who, or that clause.
  • Social Media:
    The blogger who I follow...
    (Bloger, na kotorogo ya podpisan...)
  • Online Shopping:
    The laptop that costs 100,000 rubles...
    (Noutbuk, kotoryy stoit 100 000 rubley...)
  • Travel:
    The hotel where (in which) we stayed...
    (Otel', v kotorom my zhili...)
  • Dating:
    The person who liked my photo...
    (Chelovek, kotoromu ponravilos' moyo foto...)
It works for both people and objects. Unlike English, where we distinguish between who (people) and which (objects), Russian uses kotoryy for everything. It’s a one-stop-shop for all your relative clause needs.
Whether you're complaining about a bug in an app or praising a new song on Spotify, kotoryy is your best friend.

Common Mistakes

The biggest trap is the Case Copycat. Many people try to make kotoryy match the case of the noun in the first sentence. Don't do it! If you say
I see the girl (Accusative) who (Nominative) lives here,
the word kotoryy must be Nominative because it is the subject of lives, even though girl is Accusative.
Another classic is the Comma Ghost. In English, we often skip that (e.g.,
The pizza I ordered
). In Russian, you cannot skip kotoryy, and you cannot skip the comma.
Lastly, watch out for the word order. If you have a preposition like v (in) or s (with), it must come before kotoryy. You can't end a sentence with a preposition in Russian like you can in English. No
The girl I work with.
It must be
The girl with whom I work.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

You might have seen the word chto used to mean that. For example: Ya znayu, chto ty doma (I know that you are at home). This is different! Chto connects a verb (know, say, think) to a fact. Kotoryy connects a noun to a description.
Then there is kto (who). You use kto for general groups like Everyone who... (Vse, kto...). But if you are talking about a specific person, like
The barista who made my latte,
you must use kotoryy.
Finally, there's gde (where). Sometimes you can swap v kotorom (in which) for gde. Restoran, v kotorom my eli and Restoran, gde my eli both mean
The restaurant where we ate.
Gde is easier, but kotoryy makes you sound more like a pro.

Quick FAQ

Q

Does kotoryy always need a comma?

Yes, always. No exceptions. Think of the comma as the glue holding the two parts together.

Q

Can I use kotoryy for my dog?

Yes! Since it works for people and objects, it definitely works for pets too.

Q

What if I forget the case?

If you're stuck, use the Nominative. People will still understand you, but you'll sound a bit like a toddler.

Q

Is there a short version?

Not really. Kotoryy is the standard. Just embrace the syllables! It's fun to say once you get the rhythm.

Gender and Number Agreement

Gender/Number Pronoun (Nominative) Example
Masculine
который
студент, который
Feminine
которая
книга, которая
Neuter
которое
окно, которое
Plural
которые
люди, которые

Meanings

The relative pronoun 'kotoryy' is used to introduce a subordinate clause that provides more information about a noun mentioned in the main clause.

1

Identifying/Describing

Used to specify which person or object is being discussed.

“Человек, который звонил, мой друг.”

“Машина, которую я купил, красная.”

Reference Table

Reference table for रूसी रिलेटिव क्लॉज़: 'जो' और 'जिसे' का उपयोग (kotoryy)
Gender/Number Nominative (Who/Which) Accusative (Who/Which - Object) Prepositional (In/About which)
Masculine
kotoryy
kotoryy / kotorogo
o kotorom
Feminine
kotoraya
kotoruyu
o kotoroy
Neuter
kotoroye
kotoroye
o kotorom
Plural
kotoryye
kotoryye / kotorykh
o kotorykh

औपचारिकता का स्तर

औपचारिक
Мужчина, который звонил.

Мужчина, который звонил. (Describing a caller)

तटस्थ
Человек, который звонил.

Человек, который звонил. (Describing a caller)

अनौपचारिक
Тот парень, который звонил.

Тот парень, который звонил. (Describing a caller)

बोलचाल
Чувак, который звонил.

Чувак, который звонил. (Describing a caller)

The Kotoryy Chameleon

kotoryy

Matches Noun

  • Gender M / F / N
  • Number Singular / Plural

Matches Action

  • Case Role in 2nd clause

Who vs. Which in Russian

People
kotoryy who
Objects
kotoryy which / that

Picking the Right Form

1

Is the anchor noun plural?

YES
Use plural stems (kotory-)
NO
Check gender (M/F/N)
2

Is it the object of the second clause?

YES
Use Accusative endings
NO ↓

Ending Cheat Sheet (Nominative)

👨

Masculine

  • • kotoryy
👩

Feminine

  • • kotoraya
📦

Neuter

  • • kotoroye
👥

Plural

  • • kotoryye
पूरी व्याख्या पढ़ने के लिए मुफ़्त साइन अप करें

स्तर के अनुसार उदाहरण

1

Это дом, который большой.

This is the house that is big.

2

Вот книга, которая интересная.

Here is the book that is interesting.

3

Это окно, которое открыто.

This is the window that is open.

4

Это люди, которые здесь живут.

These are the people who live here.

1

Где человек, который звонил?

Where is the man who called?

2

Я не видел фильм, который ты советовал.

I didn't see the movie that you recommended.

3

Это девушка, которая работает в банке.

This is the girl who works at the bank.

4

Я купил вещи, которые мне нужны.

I bought the things that I need.

1

Дом, в котором я живу, очень старый.

The house in which I live is very old.

2

Это проблема, о которой мы говорили.

This is the problem about which we spoke.

3

Я встретил друга, которого не видел год.

I met a friend whom I haven't seen for a year.

4

Вот ключи, без которых я не могу войти.

Here are the keys without which I cannot enter.

1

Компания, которой я доверяю, закрылась.

The company that I trust has closed.

2

Это автор, книги которого все читают.

This is the author whose books everyone reads.

3

Я нашел документы, которые были утеряны.

I found the documents that were lost.

4

Это решение, с которым я не согласен.

This is the decision with which I do not agree.

1

Он предложил план, реализация которого займет годы.

He proposed a plan, the implementation of which will take years.

2

Это был момент, после которого всё изменилось.

It was the moment after which everything changed.

3

Она была единственной, на которую можно было положиться.

She was the only one on whom one could rely.

4

Это принципы, которыми мы руководствуемся.

These are the principles by which we are guided.

1

Тот, к которому обращены все взоры, молчал.

The one to whom all eyes were turned remained silent.

2

Это были те самые люди, ради которых он рисковал всем.

These were the very people for whose sake he risked everything.

3

Среди множества теорий, из которых мы выбирали, эта была лучшей.

Among the many theories from which we chose, this one was the best.

4

Это закон, в соответствии с которым действуют все.

This is the law in accordance with which everyone acts.

आसानी से भ्रमित होने वाले

Russian Relative Clauses: Using 'Who' and 'Which' (kotoryy) बनाम Kotoryy vs Kakoy

Both mean 'which', but 'kotoryy' is for relative clauses, while 'kakoy' is for questions.

Russian Relative Clauses: Using 'Who' and 'Which' (kotoryy) बनाम Kotoryy vs Chto

Learners use 'chto' as a universal connector.

Russian Relative Clauses: Using 'Who' and 'Which' (kotoryy) बनाम Nominative vs Accusative

Learners often use the nominative form even when the pronoun is an object.

सामान्य गलतियाँ

✗

Человек который идет

✓

Человек, который идет

Missing the mandatory comma.
✗

Книга, который я читаю

✓

Книга, которую я читаю

Wrong gender agreement.
✗

Это дом который я купил

✓

Это дом, который я купил

Missing comma.
✗

Девушка, который поет

✓

Девушка, которая поет

Wrong gender.
✗

Фильм, что я смотрел

✓

Фильм, который я смотрел

Using 'chto' instead of 'kotoryy'.
✗

Друзья, который пришли

✓

Друзья, которые пришли

Wrong number (singular instead of plural).
✗

Машина, в которой я еду

✓

Машина, в которой я еду

Correct, but ensure the case is right.
✗

Человек, о котором я говорил

✓

Человек, о котором я говорил

Case error (using nominative instead of prepositional).
✗

Книга, которую я дал ему

✓

Книга, которую я дал ему

Correct, but ensure case matches the verb.
✗

Дом, который я живу

✓

Дом, в котором я живу

Missing the preposition.
✗

План, реализация которого займет время

✓

План, реализация которого займет время

Ensure genitive case is used correctly.
✗

Люди, с которыми я работаю

✓

Люди, с которыми я работаю

Ensure instrumental case is correct.
✗

Это автор, книги которого читают

✓

Это автор, книги которого читают

Ensure genitive case.

वाक्य संरचनाएँ

Это ___, который ___.

Вот ___, которую я ___.

Это место, в котором ___.

Это человек, с которым я ___.

Real World Usage

Social Media very common

Это фото, которое я сделал вчера.

Texting very common

Где ключи, которые я оставил?

Job Interview common

Это проект, которым я руководил.

Travel common

Это отель, в котором мы остановились.

Food Delivery occasional

Это заказ, который я сделал.

Academic constant

Это теория, которую мы изучаем.

सभी उदाहरण देखने के लिए मुफ़्त साइन अप करें
💡

The Comma Rule

In Russian, the comma before 'kotoryy' is non-negotiable. Even if you don't pause in English, put a comma in Russian!
⚠️

Case Confusion

Don't copy the case of the first noun. If you say 'I see the boy (Acc), who (Nom) is tall', 'kotoryy' must be Nominative.
🎯

Prepositions First

If you need a preposition (like 'in' or 'with'), it MUST come before 'kotoryy'. Never end a sentence with a preposition.

Smart Tips

Ask yourself: 'What is the role of the noun in the relative clause?'

Книга, который я читаю. → Книга, которую я читаю.

Always visualize the comma as a 'pause' button.

Дом который я купил большой. → Дом, который я купил, большой.

Remember: 'Kotoryy' is for facts, 'Kakoy' is for questions.

Какой фильм я смотрел, был хороший. → Фильм, который я смотрел, был хороший.

Replace 'chto' with 'kotoryy' if you are referring to a specific noun.

Это машина, что я купил. → Это машина, которую я купил.

उच्चारण

ka-TO-ryy

Stress

The stress is always on the 'o' in 'kotoryy'.

Relative clause rise

Noun, (rise) kotoryy... (fall)

Signals the start of a descriptive clause.

याद करें

स्मृति सहायक

Remember: 'Kotoryy' is a 'Knot' that ties two sentences together.

दृश्य संबंध

Imagine a bridge (the comma) connecting two islands (the main clause and the relative clause). The bridge is named 'Kotoryy'.

Rhyme

If the noun is a guy, use 'kotoryy' with a sigh. If it's a girl, 'kotoraya' is the pearl.

Story

Ivan saw a cat. The cat was hungry. Ivan said: 'This is the cat, which is hungry.' In Russian: 'Это кот, который голодный.'

Word Web

которыйкотораякотороекоторыекоторогокоторой

चैलेंज

Write 5 sentences about things in your room using 'kotoryy'.

सांस्कृतिक नोट्स

Russians value precision in speech. Using 'kotoryy' correctly shows you are educated.

In formal emails, relative clauses are used to sound professional.

Classic Russian literature uses complex relative clauses for descriptive depth.

Derived from the Old Church Slavonic 'kotor-'.

बातचीत की शुरुआत

“

Какой фильм, который ты смотрел недавно, тебе понравился?

“

Есть ли человек, который тебя вдохновляет?

“

Какой город, в котором ты был, самый красивый?

“

Есть ли книга, которую ты хочешь прочитать?

डायरी विषय

Describe a friend using relative clauses.
Write about a place you visited.
Explain a project you are working on.
Discuss a life lesson you learned.

सामान्य गलतियाँ

Incorrect

सही

Incorrect

सही

Incorrect

सही

Incorrect

सही

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Test Yourself

Fill in the correct form of 'kotoryy'

Eto moy drug, ___ zhivyot v Londone.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: kotoryy
'Drug' (friend) is masculine singular, and he is the subject of the second clause.
Which sentence is correctly punctuated and declined? बहुविकल्पी

Choose the best sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ya lyublyu gorod, v kotorom ya zhivu.
You need a comma and the prepositional masculine form 'v kotorom' for 'gorod'.
Find the mistake in the gender agreement Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Vot mashina, kotoryy ya khochu kupit'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vot mashina, kotoruyu ya khochu kupit'.
'Mashina' is feminine. Since it's the object of 'to buy', it must be feminine Accusative: 'kotoruyu'.

Score: /3

अभ्यास प्रश्न

8 exercises
Fill in the correct form of 'kotoryy'.

Это книга, ___ я читаю.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: которую
Accusative case for feminine noun.
Choose the correct sentence. बहुविकल्पी

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Дом, который я купил, большой.
Requires comma and correct pronoun.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Человек который звонил мой друг.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Человек, который звонил, мой друг.
Needs commas.
Combine the sentences. Sentence Transformation

Это фильм. Я смотрел его вчера.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Это фильм, который я смотрел вчера.
Correct relative clause formation.
Is this rule true? True False Rule

The pronoun 'kotoryy' must match the gender of the noun it describes.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: True
Agreement is mandatory.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Где ключи? B: Это ключи, ___ я оставил на столе.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: которые
Plural noun.
Order the words. Sentence Building

я / который / это / купил / дом

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Это дом, который я купил.
Correct word order.
Match the noun to the pronoun. Match Pairs

Match: 1. Стол, 2. Книга, 3. Окно, 4. Люди

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-который, 2-которая, 3-которое, 4-которые
Gender/number agreement.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Fill in the blank खाली जगह भरो

Devushka, ___ ya videl, ochen' krasivaya.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: kotoruyu
Reorder to make a sentence Sentence Reorder

kotoryy / kofe / Vot / ya / zakazal

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vot kofe, kotoryy ya zakazal
Translate to Russian अनुवाद

The friends who live here.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Druz'ya, kotoryye zhivut zdes'.
Select the correct form बहुविकल्पी

Pis'mo, ___ ya poluchil, bylo ot mamy.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: kotoroye
Fix the case Error Correction

Student, kotoraya uchitsya zdes', ochen' umnyy.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Student, kotoryy uchitsya zdes', ochen' umnyy.
Match the noun with the correct 'kotoryy' form Match Pairs

Match the pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: match
Fill in the blank खाली जगह भरो

Restoran, ___ my uzhinali, byl dorogim.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: v kotorom
Which one is correct? बहुविकल्पी

The photos that I took...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Fotografii, kotoryye ya sdelal
Translate to Russian अनुवाद

The man I'm talking with.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Chelovek, s kotorym ya govoryu.
Fix the punctuation Error Correction

Vot dom kotoryy postroil Dzhek.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vot dom, kotoryy postroil Dzhek.

Score: /10

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल (8)

Yes, in Russian, the comma is mandatory before a relative clause.

No, 'chto' is a conjunction, not a relative pronoun.

Look at the verb in the relative clause. If it's an object, use accusative.

No, 'kotoryy' works for both.

Use 'kotoryye'.

Yes, it is standard in all registers.

That's the accusative case for feminine nouns.

Yes, but 'kotoryy' is the most common.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

अभ्यास करने के लिए मुफ़्त साइन अप करें

In Other Languages

Spanish high

que / el cual

Russian requires gender/number agreement for 'kotoryy', while 'que' is invariable.

French high

qui / que / lequel

Russian uses case endings on the pronoun itself.

German high

der / die / das

German uses definite articles as relative pronouns.

Japanese low

no / clause + noun

Russian uses a post-nominal clause with a pronoun.

Arabic moderate

alladhi / allati

Arabic relative pronouns are not declined for case in the same way.

Chinese low

de

Chinese has no relative pronouns or case declension.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Connected Grammar

Noun Cases

Prerequisite

You need cases to decline 'kotoryy'.

Gender of Nouns

Prerequisite

You need gender to pick the right pronoun.

Participles

Advanced Form

Participles are a more formal alternative to relative clauses.

Conjunctions

Contrast

To distinguish 'kotoryy' from 'chto'.

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