The Welsh Language
Verbs: BOD (to be) – Use of the PresentTense
In colloquial Welsh verbs are commonly formed by combining BOD (to be) with an infinitive and the verb goes before the pronoun, so, for instance, ‘You speak English’ is expressed as ‘Are you speaking English’. The same words are used for the question ‘Do you speak English?’ So, in Linguata. Communication problems, ‘Ydych chi’n siarad Saesneg?’ works as either a question or a statement, depending on whether or not the voice lilts upwards at the end of the sentence. Notice also how ydych chi (are you) is linked to the infinitive verb form siarad (to speak) by the ‘n, a shortened version of the important and ubiquitous link-word yn. This is the standard way in which the Present Tense is formed in spoken Welsh.
One of the most useful first things to do when learning Welsh is to learn the Present and Imperfect tenses of BOD. The first table below shows how its Present Tense has evolved in the spoken language. Linguata uses the North Walesian or gog variant.
Present Tense of Bod in Affirmative Statements
|
Literary |
Modern |
North Wales |
South Wales |
|
|
I am |
Yr wyf i |
Rydw i |
Dw i |
Rw i or rwy |
|
You are (informal) |
Yr wyt ti |
Rwyt ti |
Wyt ti |
Wyt ti |
|
He/it is |
Y mae ef |
Mae e |
Mae o |
Mae e |
|
She/it is |
Y mae hi |
Mae hi |
Mae hi |
Mae hi |
|
We are |
Yr ydym ni |
Rydyn ni |
Dyn ni |
Ryn ni |
|
You are |
Yr ydych chwi |
Rydych chi |
Dach chi |
Rych chi |
|
They are |
Y maent hwy |
Maen nhw |
Maen nhw |
Maen nhw |
Examples from Linguata Welsh
:Dwy yma ar fusnes – I am here on business (busnes)
Dw i’n trïo dysgu Cymraeg – I am trying to learn (dysgu) Welsh
Mae’n goch – It is red (coch)
Mae hi’n un o’r gloch – it is one o’clock
Maen nhw yn deall – they understand
Notes : Welsh sentences tend to start with the verb .
Mae translates as ‘there is’ in indefinite sentences like ‘mae banc gerllaw’ – ‘there is a bank nearby’. It is replaced by oes in the equivalent form of question: ‘Is there a bank nearby?’ becomes ‘Oes banc gerllaw?’ (See Linguata.Money).
Present Tense of Bod in Questions and Yes/No Answers :
|
Literary |
Modern |
North Wales |
South Wales |
|
|
A ydwyf fi? |
Ydw i? |
Ydw i? |
Ydw i? |
|
|
A ydwyt ti? |
Wyt ti? |
Wyt ti? |
Wyt ti? |
|
|
A ydyw ef?* |
Ydy e? |
Ydy e? |
Ydy e? |
|
|
A ydyw hi?* |
Ydy hi? |
Ydy hi? |
Ydy hi? |
|
|
A ydym ni? |
Ydyn ni? |
Yn ni? |
Yn ni? |
|
|
A ydych chwi? |
Ydych chi? |
Ydych chi? |
Ych chi? |
|
|
A ydynt hwy? |
Yn nhw? |
Yn nhw? |
Yn nhw? |
*See note about mae above.
Note: When you are asked a question which can be answered with ‘yes’ or ‘no’, you use the affirmative form – identical to the question form – in your reply.
Further examples from Linguata Welsh:
I am trying to learn Welsh. Dw i’n trïo dysgu Cymraeg.
Are you (informal) trying to learn Welsh? Wyt ti’n trïo dysgu Cymraeg?
Yes. Ydw (I am).
We accept credit cards. Rydyn ni’n derbyn cardiau credyd.
Do you accept credit cards? Ydych chi’n derbyn cardiau credyd?
Yes. Ydyn (We are).
Note: The reply to questions beginning with oes is oes:
Do you have children? Oes gennych chi blant? (lit. ‘Are there children with you?’).
Yes. Oes.
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