Esitlemised

Esitlemised is an Estonian linguistic term derived from the verb esitlema, which means “to compare” or “to juxtapose.” The noun esitlemine refers to the act of comparison, and esitlemised is the plural form used to talk about multiple comparisons.

In Estonian grammar, esitlemised are employed to describe relationships between two or more elements, such as adjectives, verbs, nouns, or entire clauses. They are often introduced by the comparative particle –nd, which signals the degree of comparison. For example, “Suur – väiksem” translates to “Large – smaller” and is an esitlemine of two sizes. Comparative constructions can be simple, as in “suurepärane – valmim” (excellent – better), or complex, incorporating relative clauses: “Kõik, kes on kiiresti sõitnud, sõid kiiresti – ning kõik, kes aeglaselt sõid, oli aeglasem” (All who drove quickly, drove quickly; and all who drove slowly, were slower).

Esitlemised are used in various contexts: scientific writing to compare data points, literary analysis to contrast characters, everyday speech to express preference, and in legal texts where precise distinctions are required. While Estonian has no fixed comparative ending for all words, adjectives and adverbs form comparatives by adding -am or -im before the standard suffix –e: “hea → parema.” Verbs adopt a comparative aspect via the sequence -im; for instance, “tänada” (to thank) becomes “tänasuksem” (to thank more).

Policymakers and educators underline the importance of mastering esitlemised for clear communication. The ability to construct accurate and subtle comparisons contributes to nuanced reasoning and effective argumentation in Estonian discourse.