Description

который или что ?

**Which or What? The Ultimate Guide to Mastering the Russian Language**

As a Russian language learner, you’re probably familiar with the words « который » (kotoriy), « чего » (chego), and « что » (chtó). But have you ever wondered when to use each of them correctly? In this article, we’ll dive into the intricacies of the Russian language and provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to use these words effectively.

**The Basics**

« Which » (который) is an interrogative pronoun that indicates a question about the choice or selection of something. For example: « Устал тот ветер, который листал страницы » (The wind that rustled the pages has grown tired).

On the other hand, « what » (чего or что) is a pronoun that can be used as a subject, object, or complement. For instance: « Художник, что рисует дождь » (The artist who paints the rain).

**The Rule of Thumb**

In general, when referring to a specific person, place, or thing, you should use « которий ». For example: « Ручей Грязный, который впадает в реку Большую » (The dirty stream that flows into the Big River).

However, when referring to an abstract concept or an indefinite item, you should use « что » or « чего ». For example: « Моя любовь к чтению, что продолжается с самого детства » (My love for reading, which has persisted since childhood).

**Exception to the Rule**

But what about cases where the word « который » can be replaced with « что » or vice versa? According to the Russian language enthusiast community, the key is to pay attention to the context and the intended meaning of the sentence.

For example, in sentences like « Устал тот ветер, что листал страницы » (The wind that rustled the pages has grown tired), « что » is used to indicate a specific action or state, whereas in sentences like « Художник, который рисует дождь » (The artist who paints the rain), « которий » is used to indicate a specific person.

**Conclusion**

Mastering the Russian language requires attention to detail and an understanding of the subtleties of word usage. By following the guidelines outlined in this article, you’ll be well on your way to using « которий » and « что » correctly and confidently.

[**Sources**]

* https://rus.stackexchange.com/questions/440970/
* https://rus.stackexchange.com/questions/417053/
* https://pishu-pravilno.livejournal.com/4093428.html
* https://yandex.ru/images/search?text=который+или+что
* https://ru.wiktionary.org/wiki/который
* https://rusforus.ru/viewtopic.php?t=9248
* https://dic.academic.ru/dic.nsf/ogegova/90842
* https://irecommend.ru/content/reverso-context-pomozhet-ponyat-ne-tolko-otdelnye-slova-no-i-otryvok-teksta-delyus-metodikoi
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkesB7tVoQc
* https://kak-pravilno.net/kakoy-ili-kotoryy-kak-pravilno/

[**Image credits**]

* https://yandex.ru/images/search?text=которий+или+что