Który: which — and the comma English does not write
Który adds a second half to a sentence to describe a noun, like English who, which and that. Znam studenta, który mieszka w akademiku — I know the student who lives in the dorm. For example: “Znam studenta, który mieszka w akademiku” — I know the student who lives in the dormitory. A rule from the Polish course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
Który adds a second half to a sentence to describe a noun, like English who, which and that. Znam studenta, który mieszka w akademiku — I know the student who lives in the dorm.
It changes like an adjective: with gender — który, która, które — and with its role in its own half. English shows the role with who, whom and whose. Polish shows it in the ending: student, którego znam — the student I know; mieszkanie, w którym mieszkam — the flat I live in.
Polish always writes a comma before który, even where English writes none. Don't confuse it with że, that as in I know that: który always points back to a noun.
It also asks which one: Która godzina? — literally which hour, meaning what time is it?
Table
| Role | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| dictionary form | który | która | które |
| object form | którego | którą | które |
| of-form | którego | której | którego |
| with-form (z) | z którym | z którą | z którym |
| at-form (o) | o którym | o której | o którym |
| "what time is it?" | która godzina | — | — |
By example
- Znam studenta, który mieszka w akademikuI know the student who lives in the dormitory
- Mieszkanie, w którym mieszkam, jest dużeThe flat I live in is big
- Ocena, którą dostałem, jest dobraThe grade I got is good
How the rule settles in your head
A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.
Frequently asked
How to say which in Polish?
Który adds a second half to a sentence to describe a noun, like English who, which and that. Znam studenta, który mieszka w akademiku — I know the student who lives in the dorm.
Which case does który take?
Który adds a second half to a sentence to describe a noun, like English who, which and that. Znam studenta, który mieszka w akademiku — I know the student who lives in the dorm.
Is a comma needed before który?
Polish always writes a comma before który, even where English writes none. Don't confuse it with że, that as in I know that: który always points back to a noun.
Który vs że in Polish?
Polish always writes a comma before który, even where English writes none. Don't confuse it with że, that as in I know that: który always points back to a noun.
How to say the flat I live in in Polish?
It changes like an adjective: with gender — który, która, które — and with its role in its own half. English shows the role with who, whom and whose. Polish shows it in the ending: student, którego znam — the student I know; mieszkanie, w którym mieszkam — the flat I live in.
What does it look like in a Polish example sentence?
“Znam studenta, który mieszka w akademiku” — I know the student who lives in the dormitory. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.