Learn Hardcore Russian: Я читаю книгу, которую подарила мне моя сестра. - I am reading a book that my sister gave me.

Которую is a relative pronoun that introduces a subordinate clause describing the noun книгу. It functions similarly to “that” in English and is in the feminine singular accusative form to agree with книгу.

Why is there a comma before которую?

The comma is used to separate the main clause from the subordinate (relative) clause. In Russian, subordinate clauses—such as the one beginning with которую—are typically set off by commas to clarify the sentence structure.

Why does the subordinate clause use the word order подарила мне моя сестра instead of the more familiar моя сестра подарила мне?

Russian allows for a flexible word order to adjust the emphasis within a sentence. By placing моя сестра at the end, the speaker can emphasize who performed the action. This rearrangement is stylistically acceptable, though моя сестра подарила мне is also correct and more neutral.

What tense and aspect is indicated by читаю?

Читаю is the first-person singular form of the verb читать in the present tense, and it is in the imperfective aspect. This indicates that the action (reading) is ongoing in the present.

What case is used for книгу, and how does it affect the form of которую?

Книгу is in the accusative case since it is the direct object of the verb читаю. The relative pronoun которую also appears in the feminine singular accusative, matching the gender and case of книгу.

What is the function of мне in this sentence?

Мне is in the dative case and means “to me.” It indicates the indirect object of the verb подарила, showing who received the book as a gift.