🔗 4 | 3 | Gramatika: Zamjenica koji/-a

The Pronoun KOJI / KOJA / KOJE

The pronoun koji is a pronoun with several different functions in Croatian. Today, we are focusing only on its interrogative function –  meaning “which” or “who.” The pronoun changes its form based on gender, number, and case, aligning with the noun it refers to.

The pronoun koji also appears in different case forms. It uses the adjective endings. See examples below from today’s lesson.

How to use the pronoun?

The most important part is understanding how the case system works. Every Croatian verb or preposition expects its object to be in a certain case. If you want to ask a question about that object, the pronoun koji must appear in the same case. Imagine the full answer first: what noun would you use, and what form would it have? Whatever form the noun takes, koji must take too.

In other words, when you form a question with koji, always picture the answer first. Notice whether the noun in your answer is masculine, feminine, or neuter, whether it is singular or plural, and which case the verb or preposition requires. Then choose the form of koji that matches all of those details.

For example, the verb koristiti (“to use”) takes the Accusative case. When you say Koristim TikTok aplikaciju (I use the TikTok app), the word aplikaciju is feminine singular in the Accusative. If you want to ask about it, you cannot say “Koja društvena mreža koristiš” because koristiti needs the Accusative. The correct question is Koju društvenu mrežu koristiš? (Which social network do you use?). Here koju is the feminine singular Accusative form of koji, chosen because it matches the accusative aplikaciju in the answer.

The same pattern works in other situations. If the noun would be the subject of the sentence, you keep koji in the Nominative: Koja je tvoja omiljena aplikacija? (Which is your favorite app?). If the verb asks for the Dative (for example, the verb pripadati “to belong”), you use the Dative form too: Kojoj generaciji pripadaju tvoji roditelji? (Which generation do your parents belong to?). If you ask about several things, you switch to the plural forms, for example: Koje platforme influenceri najviše koriste? (Which platforms do influencers use the most?).

Some examples

4.3 Zadatak 1: Koji/ koja / koje?

Select the correct form of koji to complete each question.

4.3 Zadatak 2: Odaberi odgovor

Match each question with the correct answer.

4.3 Zadatak 3: Dovrši rečenice

Read the answer first. Based on the information given in the answer, complete the question. The bolded part in the answer is what you are trying to find out in your question. In some boxes you might need to type more than one word. Think of English, it can help you decide how to build the Croatian question.