The most common relative pronoun is joka ‘who, which’, the final syllable of
which occurs only in the nominative singular and plural and the genitive
singular.
Singular Plural
Nom. joka who, which, that jo/t/ka
Gen. jo/n/ka jo/i/den
Part. jo/ta jo/i/ta
Iness. jo/ssa jo/i/ssa
150 Finnish: An Essential Grammar
Singular Plural
Elat. jo/sta jo/i/sta
Illat. jo/hon jo/i/hin
Adess. jo/lla jo/i/lla
Ablat. jo/lta jo/i/lta
Allat. jo/lle jo/i/lle
Ess. jo/na jo/i/na
Transl. jo/ksi jo/i/ksi
Mikä (mentioned above as an interrogative pronoun, §56) is also used as a
relative pronoun. With the exception of the nominative and accusative the
plural forms are the same as the corresponding singular ones; otherwise it
declines like joka.
Singular Plural
Nom. mikä which, that mi/t/kä
Gen. mi/n/kä (other forms as singular)
Part. mi/tä
Iness. mi/ssä
Elat. mi/stä
Illat. mi/hin
Adess. mi/llä
Ablat. mi/ltä
Allat. mi/lle
Ess. mi/nä
Transl. mi/ksi
Joka is a more common relative pronoun than mikä, and it is mainly, but not
always, used to refer to entities that are alive. Mikä is mostly used only for
inanimate entities; it is also used when the reference is to a clause or to an
expression containing a superlative.
Hän on mies, joka ei pelkää.
He is a man who does not fear.
Tämä on kirja, jo/ta en halua lukea.
This is a book that I don’t want to read.
Talo jo/ssa asun on Vilhonkadulla.
The house wher I live is in Vilho’s Street.
Sain lahjan, jo/sta on hyötyä.
I got a present which is useful (‘of which is use’).
Ne olivat aikoja, jo/t/ka eivät palaa.
They were times that will never return.
Pronouns 151
Tapahtumat jo/i/sta kuulin olivat kauheita.
The events which I heard about were terrible.
Se on paras paikka mi/n/kä tiedän.
It is the best place that I know.
Tässä ovat kirjeet, mi/t/kä lähetit minulle.
Here are the letters that you sent to me.
Tuo on kertomus, jo/hon en usko.
That is a story that I don’t believe.
Tuli sade, mikä esti matkamme.
It rained, which prevented our trip.
