Irregular verbs · Berfau afreolaidd

Part ofCore Cymraeg CraiddGrammar · Gramadeg

Introduction - Cyflwyniad

Using the past tense will help you describe past events, such as:

  • what you did at the weekend, and
  • what you did during the holidays.

It is important that you can use the correct past tense form to make it clear who did the action as well as when it took place.

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Video 1: Irregular Verbs - Berfau Afreolaidd

How to use two key irregular Welsh verbs, 'mynd' (to go) and 'cael' (to have), in the past tense.

Some Welsh verbs are irregular in the past tense.

  • Unlike regular verbs, verbs like ‘mynd’ (to go) and ‘cael’ (to have) do not follow the usual pattern when they change into the past tense.

  • Each irregular past tense form must be learnt individually, as the whole verb changes depending on who did the action.

  • Be aware! Because ‘mynd’ and ‘cael’ are irregular verbs, you cannot change them by simply adding a past tense verb ending. You will need to learn them individually so you can use them when speaking or writing in Welsh.

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Although most Welsh verbs are regular, and follow a similar pattern, some verbs are irregular.

They don't follow the usual pattern, so you need to learn their different forms.

Two of the most important irregular verbs in Welsh are 'mynd' (to go) and 'cael' (to have).

‘Mynd’ - (to) Go

When using ‘mynd’ in the past tense, if you are doing the action, you will start your sentence with ‘Es i’.
It means ‘I went’.

For example:
(I went to the restaurant).
(I went for a walk).

Llinell / Line

Different forms

The form of ‘mynd’ you will need to use changes depending on who is doing the action.

Singular:

I wentEs i
You wentEst ti
He wentAeth o / Aeth e
She wentAeth hi

To name the person doing the action, you will use the following form:
Aeth Siôn(Siôn went).

Plural:

We wentAethon ni
You wentAethoch chi
They wentAethon nhw
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Forming a sentence

Once you know which form of ‘mynd’ you need, you will often need to add ‘i’ after it.

‘i’ translates as ‘to’.

Examples:

Es i+i+Llandudno → (I went to Llandudno)

Aethon nhw+i+Wrecsam → (I went to Wrexham)

Llinell / Line

This isn’t always the case, here are some examples that don’t need ‘i’:

(She went to the car)

(We went on the train)

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‘Cael’ - (to) Have

When using ‘cael’ in the past tense, if you are doing the action, you will start your sentence with ‘Ces i’.
It means ‘I had’.

For example:
Ces i sgwrs.(I had a chat).
Ces i hwyl.(I had fun).

Llinell / Line

Different forms

The form of ‘cael’ you will need to use changes depending on who is doing the action.

Singular:

I hadCes i
You hadCest ti
He hadCafodd o / Cafodd e
She hadCafodd hi

To name the person doing the action, you will use the following form:
Cafodd Sian(Sian had).

Plural:

We hadCawson ni
You hadCawsoch chi
They hadCawson nhw
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Forming a sentence

Once you know which form of ‘cael’ add the rest of the information needed to complete your sentence.

Examples:

Ces i+amser da → Ces i amser da(I had a good time)

Cawson ni+barti pen-blwydd → Cawson ni barti pen-blwydd(We had a birthday party)

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Remember:

There’s no shortcut to remembering the past tense of 'cael' and 'mynd'.

Just keep practising, and they’ll soon become familiar.

They are two of the most important verbs in Welsh, so you’re likely to use them a lot!

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