ona vs. ni

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The pronouns ona ("he, she, it, they") and ni ("this, that") are used differently depending on context.

ona is a third-person pronoun. It can contain the information of a noun phrase (a head noun plus its modifiers):

mi kepeken ilo　 ona li pona　

mi kepeken ilo. ona li pona.

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

jan [moku insa mi ijo] li moku e kili ona

jan Mimi li moku e kili ona.

Mimi is eating her [Mimi'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.

ni is a demonstrative pronoun, similar to English's this, that, these, and those. Besides being able to contain the information of a noun phrase, it can 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.

jan [moku insa mi ijo] li moku e kili ni : ona li loje walo li tan ma [pilin awen sona insa jan uta]

jan Mimi li moku e kili ni: ona li loje walo li tan ma Pasiju.

Mimi is eating this fruit: it [the fruit] is whitish red and it comes from Brazil.

mi wile kama sona e toki ante　 mi o ni　

mi wile kama sona e toki ante. mi o ni.

I want to learn another language. I should do this [learn another language].

Note that when ona is used, [ijo] ni can be used instead:

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. Here are more examples of the difference ona and ni can make in a sentence:

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.