What are Relative Pronouns?

Relative pronouns are used to connect a dependent clause to a main clause, creating a more complex sentence structure. They provide additional information about the noun they refer to, called the antecedent. In Macedonian grammar, relative pronouns can refer to people, animals, things, or even abstract ideas.

The Primary Relative Pronouns in Macedonian

Macedonian has several primary relative pronouns. The most commonly used relative pronoun is “што” (also written as “шта“) which translates to “that” or “which” in English. This relative pronoun can be used for both singular and plural nouns, as well as for all genders (masculine, feminine, and neuter). Some other relative pronouns in Macedonian include:

• кој – translates to “who” or “which” when referring to people and things
• чиј – translates to “whose” when showing possession
• кога – translates to “when” or “while” in time-related contexts
• каде – translates to “where” or “in which” when indicating a location

Examples of Relative Pronouns in Context

To fully grasp the use of relative pronouns in Macedonian grammar, it’s important to analyze them within the context of well-formed sentences. Here are a few examples:

1. “Жената која го сака своето дете е среќна.” (The woman who loves her child is happy.)
2. “Книгата што ја купив вчера е интересна.” (The book that I bought yesterday is interesting.)
3. “Студентите чии трудови беа најдобри добија петици.” (The students whose work was the best received the highest marks.)
4. “Денот кога пристигнав во Скопје беше вооличен.” (The day when I arrived in Skopje was rainy.)
5. “Местото каде се сретнавме е познато како Стонебриџ.” (The place where we met is called Stonebridge.)

Relative Pronouns and Gender Agreement

As previously mentioned, some relative pronouns in Macedonian must agree with the gender of the antecedent. For example, the relative pronoun “кој” has different forms for each gender:

• кој (masculine)
• која (feminine)
• кое (neuter)
• кои (plural, for all genders)

Similarly, the possessive relative pronoun “чиј” also has gender-specific and plural forms:

• чиј (masculine)
• чија (feminine)
• чие (neuter)
• чии (plural, for all genders)

Relative Pronouns and Case Agreement

Macedonian grammar also requires relative pronouns to agree with the antecedent in case. The six Macedonian cases are: nominative, accusative, genitive, dative, instrumental, and vocative. The relative pronoun “кој” demonstrates this case agreement by changing its form accordingly:

By mastering these rules and practicing their application in context, learners can achieve a superior understanding of relative pronouns and their usage in Macedonian grammar.