The Relative Pronoun "Joka"
To add extra information about a person or thing, use a relative clause. In Finnish, these clauses begin with the relative pronoun joka (who, which, that).
| who / which (relative pronoun) | joka |
Just like with jos clauses, relative clauses must be separated from the rest of the sentence by commas. When the relative clause sits in the middle of the main sentence, you need a comma before joka and another comma at the end of the relative clause.
| The boy who is reading a book is hardworking. | Poika, joka lukee kirjaa, on ahkera. |
| The man, who is lazy but honest, sleeps on the sofa. | Mies, joka on laiska mutta rehellinen, nukkuu sohvalla. |
You can also use negative verbs inside the relative clause.
| A child who does not speak anything is often shy. | Lapsi, joka ei puhu mitään, on usein ujo. |
The Plural Form "Jotka"
When the relative pronoun refers to a plural noun, joka becomes jotka.
Notice that the verb inside the relative clause must also be in its plural form to match jotka. Remember too that any adjectives describing the plural subject in the main clause will be in the plural as well.
| These young people, who help the grandmother, are smart and kind. | Nämä nuoret, jotka auttavat isoäitiä, ovat fiksuja ja kilttejä. |
| Those people who laugh at me are mean. | Ne ihmiset, jotka nauravat minulle, ovat ilkeitä. |
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