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Session 8

Language notes

The conditional tense in Welsh is used in situations where it is uncertain whether an action will take place. It is equivalent to ..would.., ..could.., ..might.. in English.

The conditional tense in Welsh usually has a long (cwmpasog) form in which the conditional tense of 'bod' is combined with a verb noun. Two alternative versions of the conditional tense are in use, and for most purposes are interchangeable:

Ist person singular byddwn i'n mynd I would go

2nd person byddet ti'n mynd you would go

3rd person byddai fe/fo/hi'n mynd he/she would go

Ist person plural bydden ni'n mynd we would go

2nd person byddech chi'n mynd you would go

3rd person bydden nhw'n mynd they would go

Ist person singular baswn i'n mynd I would go

2nd person baset ti'n mynd you would go

3rd person basai fe/fo/hi'n mynd he/she would go

Ist person plural basen ni'n mynd we would go

2nd person basech chi'n mynd you would go

3rd person basen nhw'n mynd they would go

One difference between the two 'bod' forms is that bydd- is used to describe events which would occur regularly. For example:

Bydden yn mynd i Abersoch am ein gwyliau haf bob blwyddyn.

We would go to Abersoch for our summer holidays every year.

Another conditional long form verb uses tas- , and is equivalent to the English word 'were..'. It is generally used in combination with the word pe, 'if', to specify a requirement for something to happen:

Ist person singular pe taswn i'n mynd if I were to go

2nd person pe taset ti'n mynd if you were to go

3rd person pe tasai fe/fo/hi'n mynd if he/she were to go

Ist person plural pe tasen ni'n mynd if we were to go

2nd person pe tasech chi'n mynd if you were to go

3rd person pe tasen nhw'n mynd if they were to go

The word 'pe' is sometimes omitted, but is imagined as being present.

Byddwn/baswn and pe taswn are used together in sentences with the meanings:

if I were to .... , I would ....

I would ... if I were to ...

Taswn i'n Brif Weinidog, baswn yn gwario mwy ar adeiladu tai.

If I were Prime Minister, I would spend more on building houses.

Byddwn yn teimlo'n euog pe taswn i'n mynd adref yn gynnar.

I would feel guilty if I went home early.

The conditional tense is used when it is unlikely that an action will occur.

The conditional tense is generally not used when an event is likely to occur. In this case, the normal active verb tense is used:

Os daw Peter i'r dosbarth, rhoddaf y llyfr iddo.

If Peter comes to the class, I will give him the book.

Treigladau

We will continue our investigation of how sentence patterns affect the use of treigladau. Sentences can be classified as:

affirmative, where something occurs

He is buying a car

negative, where something does not occur

He is not buying a car

interrogative, where a question is asked

Is he buying a car?

Affirmative sentences using tenses of the verb bod do not need a treiglad at the start. For example:

Bydd y plant yn yr ysgol yfory

The children will be in school tomorrow

Mae John yn gwylio'r teledu

John is watching television

Short form (cryno) verbs also do not need treigladau:

Rhedodd y dyn i ddal y bws

The man ran to catch the bus

Byddaf yn dringo'r mynydd ar y penwythnos

I will climb the mountain at the weekend

If the small word (known as a particle) fe or mi is introduced before the verb, however, then a treiglad meddal is applied to the verb:

Fe redodd y dyn i ddal y bws

Mi fyddaf yn dringo'r mynydd ar y penwythnos

Negative sentences may begin with a form of nid or nad (not), followed by a verb. This causes an aspirate mutation (treiglad llaes) with the letters c, p and t. In other cases there is a soft mutation. For example:

Aspirate mutation

Ni chollodd hi yn y gystadleuaeth.

She did not loose in the competition

Ni phrynoch chi ddigon o fwyd.

You didn't buy enough food.

Ni ddaeth y myfyriwr i'r dosbarth

The student did not come to the class

Ni wnaethon ni brynu'r tŷ

We did not buy the house

An alternative sentence pattern uses dim (not or none). An aspitate mutation (with the letters c, p and t) or a soft mutation of the verb is again present:

Aspirate mutation

Chollodd hi ddim yn y gystadleuaeth.

Phrynoch chi ddim digon o fwyd.

Ddaeth y myfyriwr ddim i'r dosbarth

Wnaethon ni ddim brynu'r tŷ

The word dim can appear with two meanings:

not - as in 'We are not going to the concert'

not any - as in 'There is not any milk in the kitchen

When dim represents 'not', then a soft mutation is applied:

Dydyn nhw ddim wedi cyrraedd eto

They have not arrived yet

Dydy'r bwyty ddim yn ddrud

The restaurant is not expensive

However, no treiglad is applied to dim if it has the meaning 'not any', for example:

Does dim llyfrau ar y silff

There are no books on the shelf

Doedd dim gwaith i'r glowyr

There was no work for the miners

Interrogative sentences may begin with the word 'a', which causes a soft mutation:

A fydd y teulu'n aros yn y gwesty?

Will the family stay in the hotel?

A welsoch chi'r machlud hyfryd?

Did you see the beautiful sunset?

The initial 'a' can be omitted, but a soft mutation is still applied:

Fydd y teulu'n aros yn y gwesty?

Welsoch chi'r machlud hyfryd?

Idioms

The word 'o' can have a number of meanings in sentences. Examples are:

Mae'r rheilffordd yn rhedeg o Aberystwyth i'r Amwythig.

The railway runs from Aberystwyth to Shrewsbury.

Mae'r tŷ wedi'i adeiladu o gerrig.

The house is built of stone.

Roedd yr enillydd yn gwenu o rhyddhad.

The winner smiled with relief.

'o' is used in counting:

Roedd chwech o ddefaid yn y cae.

There were six sheep in the field.

'o' can form a link between a pair of nouns:

Aethon ni i'r bwyty am bryd o fwyd.

We went to the restaurant for a meal.

Gwelon ni haid o adar yn hedfan dros y goedwig.

We saw a flock of birds flying over the forest.

'o' appears in a number of idioms, for example:

o bwys - of importance, matters

Mae hanes y castell o bwys i ymwelwyr.

The history of the castle matters to visitors.

o bedwar ban y byd - from around the world

Daw myfyrwyr i'r brifysgol o bedwar ban y byd.

Students come to university from around the world.

o bell - from a distance

Gallem glywed clychau�r eglwys o bell.

We could hear the church bells from far away.

o bryd i'w gilydd - from time to time

Darllenais nofel o bryd i'w gilydd.

I read a novel from time to time.

o ddifrif - serious

Ydych chi o ddifrif ynglŷn � phrynu cwch?

Are you serious about buying a boat?

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Sentences

Sentence 1 of 20: What would you have done if the weather had been fine?

You are invited to translate this article into Welsh.

Vocabulary

ancient hynafol adjective; barracks barics noun (plural);

amphitheatre amffitheatr noun (f); spectator gwyliwr noun;

Britain (ancient) Brython noun; cramped cyfyng adjective;

Roman Caerleon

Caerleon is the location of Isca Roman fortress.
This was one of only three permanent Roman forts in Britain.
The soldiers in Isca came originally from northern Italy, France and Spain.
Life was difficult for Roman soldiers in Wales in the first century.
They risked their lives in battles with ancient Britons.
The soldiers were housed in cramped barracks rooms with their weapons.
Wales would feel like the most distant corner of the Roman empire.
The soldiers had some of the comforts of home.
They could visit the baths to meet friends.
There were cold, warm and hot indoor baths and a huge outdoor swimming pool.
The soldiers could also go to the amphitheatre to watch the gladiators fight.
Caerleon has the most complete Roman amphitheatre in Britain, with space for six thousand spectators.

Translate the sentence:

Caerleon is the location of Isca Roman fortress.

Suggested translation: (a number of alternatives acceptable)

Speaking and writing challenge

You are invited to speak in Welsh for a maximum of 3 minutes on the subject given below. Try to speak fluently, keeping your language simple and avoiding unfamiliar vocabulary.

Select a town or region with which you are familiar. Describe the important historic buildings, mentioning: their age, why they were built, and how they were used.

Before you begin speaking, make a list in Welsh of each key point that you want to mention. Enter the list in the box below, keeping each point to a few words in length:

When you have finished speaking, go back and expand each of the list items into a full sentence. Link the sentences to produce a final written article in Welsh.

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

approve cymeradwyo verb; petition deiseb noun (f);

runway rhedfa noun (f); protest gwrthdystio verb;

resident, inhabitant trigolyn noun; campaigner ymgyrchwr noun;

support cefnogaeth noun (f);

Air traffic was increasing.
The government wanted to increase the number of planes using the airport.
This would develop the region as a centre for international business.
They quickly approved plans to build new runway without asking the local people.
This would require cutting down ancient oak woods.
Local people were concerned about more aircraft noise.
They would not be able to have their windows open in the summer.
The local residents came out of their houses to met neighbours and arrange to protest.
A large petition was started, and thousands of signatures were received.
A protest march was arranged.
The march ended at the oak wood, where the campaigners gave speeches.
Television cameras filmed the event.
The campaign received support from the local Member of Parliament.
She was also concerned about the effects of more air travel on climate change.
When other Members of Parliament heard about the plans, they were also worried.
After a vote, the project was stopped until a full environmental report is produced.

Translate the sentence:

Air traffic was increasing.

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

Woodland Theme Park

Woodland Park is a theme park in south Wales.

You are invited to translate the visitors' guide into Welsh:

Vocabulary

roundabout trogylch noun (m); twist troelli verb;

woodland coetir noun (m); zoo sw noun (m);

enclosure lloc noun (m); among ymhlith preposition;

excitement cynnwrf noun (m); thrill seeker ceisiwr gwefr;

Translate the sentence:

Enjoy your day at Woodland Park.

Suggested translation: (a number of alternatives acceptable)

Description

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

Dathlu`r cyfraniad Cymraeg ar ben-blwydd Wicipedia

Wicipedia yn dathlu pymtheg mlynedd ers creu`r erthygl gyntaf. Wicipedia yw`r gwyddoniadur mwyaf ar y blaned bellach ac mae`n un o`r gwefannau mwyaf poblogaidd yn y byd. Gyda degau o filiynau o erthyglau mewn bron i dri chant o ieithoedd, mae miliynau o bobl yn troi at Wicipedia am bob math o wybodaeth, o fywgraffiadau o`u hoff s�r ffilm, i grefydd, gwleidyddiaeth a hanes hynafol.

Yn 2007 roedd gan y Wicipedia Cymraeg fil o erthyglau yn unig ond mae wedi tyfu`n gyflym ac erbyn hyn mae`n cynnwys yn agos at saith mil o erthyglau gwreiddiol yn y Gymraeg.

Yr hyn sy`n gwneud y ffigurau yma yn fwy trawiadol yw`r ffaith bod erthyglau Wicipedia yn cael eu creu yn gyfan gwbl gan wirfoddolwyr. Heb y bobl hyn ni fyddai Wicipedia yn bodoli.

Nid yw cyfrannu at Wicipedia erioed wedi bod mor hawdd. Gall unrhyw un gyfrannu.
Er enghraifft, os ydych yn ysgrifennu neu`n ychwanegu at erthygl am chwaraewr rygbi proffesiynol gallech gael gwybodaeth o wefan swyddogol, papur newydd neu hunangofiant.

Os ydych yn pori trwy erthygl ac yn gweld camgymeriad, waeth pa mor fach, cofiwch fod gennych y pŵer i glicio `golygu`, a chywiro`r camgymeriad yn syth yn y fan a`r lle.

Gan fod Wicipedia mor enfawr, mae hefyd yn llwyfan perffaith i rannu hanes Cymru gyda`r byd. Mae Lyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru wedi darparu delweddau i Wikipedia, o`r ffotograffau cynharaf yng Nghymru i baentiadau tirlun a llawysgrifau canoloesol.

Story board

A story is outlined below as a series of numbered notes and pictures. You are invited to write the story in Welsh so that it could be displayed as an on-line blog or news item. If necessary, please feel free to add any additional details to develop the story.

Military training in Wales

1

Wales has an important role in military training. The army uses the Epynt area of mid-Wales to train soldiers to fight in wars.

2

Castlemartin in Pembrokeshire is a training area for the crews of tanks and other military vehicles.

3

Valley airfield on Anglesey is an important training base for fighter pilots.

4

Air crews from Britain and other NATO countries use the valleys of Wales to practice flying at low level.

5

Use of Wales for military training has caused some problems. The Epynt area was taken over by the army during the Second World War and local residents were forced to leave their homes. At the present day, the public are excluded from the Epynt and Castlemartin training areas except at occasional times. Low flying aircraft can disturb or frighten people and animals.

Enter each section of your story in Welsh in the boxes below:

1

2

3

4

5

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