Highlighting with see ..., kes

Estonian usually shows emphasis with word order and small words like just or hoopis: Helistas hoopis Mari. (It was Mari who called, not someone else.) For extra weight, you can also use a frame with see and a relative clause.

1. Pointing at someone or something. Say see on/oli + X, then a kes or mis clause. You can also put X first: X oli see, kes ...

• See oli Mari, kes helistas. (It was Mari who called.)
• Mari oli see, kes helistas. (Mari was the one who called.)
• See oli vihm, mis meid koju ajas. (It was the rain that drove us home.)

2. Saving the answer for the end. Start with see, mis ... or see, mida ..., and put the answer after on: See, mida ma vajan, on puhkus. (What I need is a rest.)

The relative word takes its own case. Choose the form of kes or mis that its own clause needs, not the main sentence:

• See, mida ma vajan ... (vajama takes the partitive)
• See, millest ma räägin ... (rääkima + elative: talk about)
• See oli Mari, kellele ma helistasin. (helistama + allative: It was Mari I called.)

Commas. The relative clause always has a comma before it, and another after it when the sentence goes on: See, mida ma vajan, on puhkus.

In everyday talk, stress on the word or just is often enough: Just Mari helistas. Use the see frame when you want to correct someone or make a strong point.