ona vs. ni

The pronouns ona and ni are used differently depending on context and is sometimes misunderstood by learners. The word ona is a third-person pronoun. It can contain the information about a content phrase. While ni is a demonstrative pronoun, similar to English's this / that.

mi kepeken ilo 　 ona li pona

mi kepeken ilo. ona li pona.

I'm using a tool. It [the tool] is good.

jan [ale luka uta] li moku e kili ona

jan Alu li moku e kili ona.

Someone is eating their [Alu's] fruit.

kasi mute li lon 　 ona laso li pona

kasi mute li lon. ona laso li pona.

There are many plants. The blue ones [plants] are good.

Besides being able to contain the information of a noun phrase, the pronoun ni may also hold the information of an entire sentence. Not only that, the information that ni contains can come after it is said:

mi kepeken ilo　 ni li pona　

mi kepeken ilo. ni li pona.

I'm using a tool. This [using a tool] is good.

Note that when ona is used, the phrase ijo ni can be used instead, with ijo being substituted with any content word:

mi moku e kili　 ona li pona　

mi moku e kili. ona li pona.

I eat a fruit. It [the fruit] is good.

mi moku e kili　 kili ni li pona　

mi moku e kili. kili ni li pona.

I eat a fruit. This fruit is good.

Notice in the first example of each (mi kepeken ilo), how substituting ona for ni changes the meaning of the second part. For example, compare the following sentences:

mi wile ala moku e kili ona　

mi wile ala moku e kili ona.

I don't want to eat her fruit.

mi wile ala moku e kili ni　

mi wile ala moku e kili ni.

I don't want to eat this fruit.

mi sona e toki mute 　 ona li pona

mi sona e toki mute. ona li pona.

I know many languages. They [the languages] are good.

mi sona e toki mute 　 ni li pona

mi sona e toki mute. ni li pona.

I know many languages. This [knowing many languages] is good.