HOME PAGE Language notesSentencesArticleStoryUse of WelshDescriptionUnderstanding WelshAudio

Session 9






Language notes

Complex sentences are sentences made up from two clauses, each with its own verb, and linked by a word such as ...that... or ...who... , (although English sometimes omits these connecting words).  For example:

         (1)     We were expecting that the shop would be open today
                        first clause                                second clause  
         (2)     He opened the parcel that he had received in the post
                         first clause                              second clause

These examples are of two different kinds:   

Example (1) is a complex sentence in which the first clause tells us where information in the second clause was obtained.  Other examples are:
                 It was suggested that we go to the conference
                 I heard that he was sitting in the cafe

For this type of sentence in Welsh, clauses in the present tense are often linked by the verb 'bod':
                  Mae nhw'n dweud bod y tŷ yn wag.
                  They say that the house is empty.

                  Rydw i'n gobethio bod ti'n hapus yn dy swydd newydd.
                  I hope that you are happy in your new job.

                  Ydych chi'n gwybod bod y bws yn hwyr?               
                  Do you know that the bus is late?  

In cases where a verb other than a present tense of 'bod' occurs in the second clause, the two parts of the  Welsh senetence are simply joined together with the English '...that...' omitted.  The linking word 'y' may be added. For example:
                  Roeddwn i'n meddwl y dylwn ymweld â nhw.
                  I was thinking that I should visit them.

                  Mae hi wedi darganfod y bydd y llun yn cael ei werthu.
                  She has discovered that the painting will be sold.

An exception to this rule is the imperfect tense, where bod is again used:
                  Credaf ei fod yn gweithio yn y ffatri.
                  I think that he was working in the factory.      (past time)
This may lead to misinterprestation as an alternative translation is:
                  Credaf ei fod yn gweithio yn y ffatri.
                  I think that he is working in the factory.          (present time)
It is therefore best to use an alternative verb pattern when the time of the event is not clear from the sentence context.                 




Please note: the word 'that' may be omitted in English, for example:
                      We expect the shop is open today
but must be shown in Welsh:
                      Rydyn ni'n disgwyl bod y siop ar agor heddiw

Example (2) is a compound sentence in which the second clause provides additional information about a person or thing which was introduced in the first clase. For example:
             Did you see the man who was driving the car?
                       first clause                       second clause  
             We put up the mirror which we bought in the sale.            
                        first clause                       second clause  

Alternative forms of 'bod' are possible for the third person singular present tense.  

If the subject of the second clause refers back to a person or thing in the first clause, then the parts of the sentence should be linked with 'sydd'.  For example:

             Dyma'r teulu sydd yn symud i mewn i'r tŷ.
             This is the family who are moving into the house.
The family mentioned in the first clause is carrying out the action of 'moving into the house' (i.e. they are the subject) in the second clause.

              Rydyn ni'n siarad â'r dyn sydd yn torri'r lawnt.
              We are speaking to the man who is cutting the lawn.
The man mentioned in the first clause is carrying out the action of 'cutting the lawn' (i.e. he is the subject) in the second clause.

If the object of the second clause refers back to a person or thing in the first clause, then the parts of the sentence should be linked with 'y mae'.  For example:

             Dyma'r tŷ y mae'r teulu'n ei brynu.   
             This is the house that the family is buying.
The house mentioned in the first clause has the action of 'being bought' carried out on it (i.e. it is the object) in the second clause. The subject of the second clause is the family, who are doing the action of 'buying'.

             Canmolodd yr adroddiad y mae'r rheolwr wedi'i ysgrifennu.   
             He praised the report that the manager has written.  
The report mentioned in the first clause has the action of 'being written' carried out on it (i.e. it is the object) in the second clause. The subject of the second clause is the manager, who is doing the action of 'writing'.     




Treigladau

We have come across the word 'yn' used as a preposition with the meaning 'in', for example:
       Mae'r beic yn y sied.               The bicycle is in the shed.

However, 'yn' also appears in sentences for several grammatical reasons.

'Yn' is used to create adverbs from adjectives.  For example, cyflym is an adjective which can be used to describe the noun 'car':
        Mae gen i gar cyflym.             I have a fast car.

However, by adding 'yn' we can create the adverb 'quickly':
         Cerddon ni yn gyflym i'r orsaf reilffordd.    
         We walked quickly to railway station.  
           
In this case, 'yn gyflym' is describing how the action of the verb 'cerdded' is carried out.  Notice that 'yn' causes a soft mutation of the adjective.

Other examples of adverbs created from adjectives are:
     Siaradodd yn flin gyda'r bachgen.         Blin  angry    
     He spoke angrily to the boy.
     Canodd y côr yn hardd.                          Hardd  beautiful                       
     The choir sang beautifully.
     Roedd e'n gweithio yn ddiogel.              Diogel  safe 
      He was working safely.

In each case, a soft mutation has been applied to the adjective.   




The next use of 'yn' relates to the sentence structure.

We have seen that a short form (cryno) sentence pattern causes a soft mutation to distinguish the object from the subject.  For example:
               Peintiodd yr adeiladwr dŷ.                                Tŷ
               The builder (subject) painted (verb) a house (object)
               Dylai'r adeiladwr baentio tŷ.                             Paentio
               The builder (subject) should (verb) paint a house (object)  

However, in long form (cwmpasog) sentences using a tense of the verb 'bod' in combination with a verb noun, such as:
                            Maen nhw + dysgu
the word 'yn' takes the place of the soft mutation.  This is again to distinguish the object of the sentence.  There is no soft mutation of the verb noun which follows 'yn'.  For example: 
               Mae'r adeiladwr yn paentio tŷ.
               The builder (subject) is (verb) painting a house (object)
               Bydd yr adeiladwr yn paentio tŷ.
               The builder will paint a house. 
               Byddai'r adeiladwr yn paentio tŷ.
               The builder would paint a house.

Other examples demonstrate the difference between cryno and cwmpasog sentence patterns.    
Cryno verbs cause a soft mutation of the object, which in this case is 'llyfr':                
              Darllenodd y myfyriwr lyfr am hanes Cymru.         Llyfr 
              The student read a book on Welsh history.  
               Darllenais lyfr am hanes Cymru.
               I read a book on Welsh history.  

In cwmpasog forms, the word 'yn' is added but there is no soft mutation of the verb noun which follows:
               Mae'r myfyriwr yn darllen llyfr am hanes Cymru. 
               The student is reading a book on Welsh history.  
               Roedd y myfyriwr yn darllen llyfr am hanes Cymru.
               The student was reading a book on Welsh history.  
               Byddaf yn darllen llyfr am hanes Cymru. 
               I will read a book on Welsh history.  



Idioms

'mewn' is usually translated as 'in' or 'into':

        Aeth i mewn i'r gegin.
        He went into the kitchen.
        Fe gyrhaeddon ni'r dref mewn llai na hanner awr.
        We reached the town in less than half an hour.

'mewn' appears in a number of commonly used phrases:

mewn angen - in need
     Roedd yna lawer o bobl mewn angen ar ôl y daeargryn.
     There were many people in need after the earthquake.

mewn cawl - in a mess
      Roedd y cwmni mewn cawl ar ôl i'r cyfrifiadur fethu.
      The company was a mess after the computer  failed.         




mewn chwinciad - immediately
      Pan welodd hi'r bachgen, redodd ato mewn chwinciad.
      When she saw the boy, she ran to him in an instant.

mewn cysylltiad â  - in connection with
      Ffoniodd y siop mewn cysylltiad â'r nwyddau a archebwyd.
      The shop phoned in connection with the goods ordered.

mewn gwirionedd - as a matter of fact, actually
      Mewn gwirionedd, nid yw'r atgyweiriad wedi datrys y broblem.
       Actually, the repair has not solved the problem.
  
mewn golwg - under consideration, in mind
       Mae gennyn ni safle ar gyfer y ffatri newydd mewn golwg.
       We have a site for the new factory in mind.

mewn pryd - in time
        Fe gyrhaeddon ni'r sgwâr mewn pryd i ddal y bws.
        We arrived in the square in time to catch the bus.






You are invited to translate this article into Welsh.



Vocabulary

aquaduct   traphont dŵr   noun (f);        Cheshire   Swydd Gaerlleon;
Chirk    Y Waen;               Whitchurch  Yr Eglwys Newydd; 
Horseshoe Falls   Rhaeadr y Bedol;     River Dee   Afon Dyfrdwy;
trough  cafn  noun (m);    embankment  arglawdd noun (m);
hug   cofleidio   verb;     either ... or ...    naill ai ...  neu ... ;
scenery  golygfeydd  noun (pl);

The Llangollen Canal


Many people think that the Llangollen Canal is the most beautiful canal in Wales.
It takes a week to travel by boat along the full length of the canal and back.
Anyone enthusiastic about canals can enjoy the trip, either new or experienced in handling canal boats.
The canal is full of variety, with the flat fields of England leading to hills and then mountain scenery around Llangollen.
Starting in Cheshire, the canal runs through the village of Wrenbury and the town of Whitchurch.
It then crosses an area of peat bogs and lakes to reach the small town of Ellesmere.
The canal continues past farmland to Chirk and through the Chirk Tunnel, with Chirk Castle close by.
It crosses from England into Wales over the Chirk Aqueduct then continues to Thomas Telford`s breathtaking Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.
This carries the canal in an iron trough across the deep valley of the River Dee at a height of 120 feet.
The canal hugs the steep sides of the Dee valley before entering Llangollen on a high embankment.
A short walk beyond Llangollen are the Horseshoe Falls, where the canal takes its water supply from the River Dee.
Around Llangollen, visitors can travel back in time and take a trip by horse drawn narrow boat.

Translate the sentence:

Many people think that the Llangollen Canal is the most beautiful canal in Wales.



Suggested translation: (a number of alternatives acceptable)









Story

The set of icons below was randomly selected, and has been used to write a story.

You are invited to translate the story into Welsh.



Vocabulary

bat    ystlum  noun (m);   remote  anghysbell  adjective;
quiet  distaw  adjective;  occasional  achlysurol  adjective;
remind  atgoffa  verb;  scattered with  gwasgaru â;
silence  distawrwydd  noun (m);  frightening  brawychus  adjective;
lonely  unig  adjective;




Sam had always lived in the city.
He would sometimes drive into the countryside to go for a walk.
However, he had never stayed outside the city.
He thought it would be exciting to go for a few days to a holiday cottage in a remote part of Wales.
He packed a box of food for several days and set off.
He followed the road as far as it went.
He then had to continue for several miles along a rough track to reach the cottage.
After cooking a meal he went to bed, but he could not sleep.
It was too quiet.
There was no sound of cars and trains, which continue through the night in the city.
The occasional police siren in the middle of the night reminded him that people in the city were being protected.
From his cottage window, he looked out at the black sky scattered with stars.
A strange creature, a bat, flew by quietly.
The silence was frightening.
He did not enjoy being in such a lonely place.
There was no pub nor cinema, nor even a shop.
With some sadness he cut short his trip and returned to the city and its familiar noises.

Translate the sentence:

Sam had always lived in the city.

Suggested translation: (a number of alternatives acceptable)










Create your own story in Welsh

Click the button to randomly select a set of story icons:








Use of Welsh

Letter to the editor


There are concerns in some parts of Wales that all the affordable housing is being sold as second homes for holidaymakers.



You are invited to translate a letter into Welsh which has been written by a local resident with strong views on the subject.



Vocabulary

stability   sefydlogrwydd  noun (m);   afraid  ofnus  adjective; 
comfort  cysur  noun (m);  richest  cyfoethocaf   adjective;







Translate the sentence:

Second homes create problems.

Suggested translation: (a number of alternatives acceptable)








Description


Write four or five sentences in Welsh to describe the picture:








Understanding Welsh

Read the article, then write sentences in Welsh to answer the following questions:

What forms of propulsion did the Royal Charter have?


What was the occupation of many of the passengers?


Why could the ship not reach Liverpool?


How did the shipwreck occur?


How were some people saved from the shipwreck?


What has been recovered from the wreck?


What memorials are there to the shipwreck?




Llongddrylliad y Royal Charter

Roedd y Royal Charter yn llong hwylio gyda peiriant ager a ddrylliwyd ar arfordir dwyreiniol Ynys Môn ger pentref Moelfre ar 26 Hydref 1859. Dyma`r llongddrylliad a laddodd fwyaf o bobl o bob un ar arfordir Cymru. Collwyd tua 200 o longau llai yn yr un storm.

Roedd y Royal Charter yn dychwelyd i Lerpwl o Melbourne. Roedd arni tua 371 o deithwyr gyda chriw o tua 112 a rhai pobl eraill oedd yn gweithio i’r cwmni. Roedd llawer o’r teithwyr yn dychwelyd o’r cloddfeydd aur yn Awstralia, a llawer ohonynt yn dod ag aur yn ôl gyda hwy. Roedd llawer o aur hefyd yn cael ei gario fel cargo. Wrth i’r llong gyrraedd arfordir gogledd-orllewin Môn roedd y gwynt yn dechrau codi.

Ceisiodd y Royal Charter godi’r peilot ar gyfer Lerpwl pan oedd gyferbyn â Phwynt Lynas, ond roedd y môr yn rhy arw iddi gyfarfod y peilot. Yn ystod noson 25 Hydref cododd y gwynt i raddfa 12. Roedd y gwynt yn gyrru’r llong tuag at arfordir dwyreiniol Môn. Am 11 o’r gloch y noson honno gollyngwyd yr angor, ond am hanner awr wedi un yn y bore torrodd y cebl oedd yn ei ddal. Gyrrwyd y Royal Charter tua’r lan, gyda’r peiriant ager yn methu gwneud dim yn erbyn y storm. Yn gynnar ar fore’r 26 Hydref, wrth i’r llanw godi, gyrrwyd hi yn erbyn y creigiau rhwng Moelfre a Thraeth Llugwy.

Gallodd un aelod o’r criw, Joseph Rogers, nofio i’r lan gyda rhaff, a defnyddiwyd hon i achub ychydig o bobl, a gallodd ychydig rhagor nofio i’r lan. Bu farw dros 450 o bobl, rhai wedi boddi ond y rhan fwyaf wedi eu lladd trwy gael eu hyrddio yn erbyn y creigiau gan y tonnau enfawr. Achubwyd 21 o deithwyr ac 18 o’r criw.

Dywedir fod llawer o aur wedi ei olchi i’r lan yn y dyddiau nesaf, ac i rai teuluoedd ym Moelfre ddod yn gefnog dros nos. Cafwyd hyd i ynnau, sbectol, ac aur gan blymwyr tanfor dros y blynyddoedd. Defnyddir darganfyddwyr metel tanddwr yn ddiweddar.

Claddwyd y rhan fwyaf o’r cyrff ym mynwent Llanallgo gerllaw, lle gellir gweld beddau a chofeb iddynt. Mae hefyd gofeb ger y traeth uwchben y creigiau lle drylliwyd y llong, ger Llwybr Arfordirol Ynys Môn.




    Download a copy of this session