Echo Answers in Other Tenses
Welsh has no single yes or no. Answer with the question's verb: Wnei di helpu? — Gwnaf (I will). Oedd hi yno? — Oedd (She was).
How It Works
Common pairs.
- Past of bod: Oedd hi yno? — Oedd / Nac oedd. O't ti yno? — O'n / Nac o'n.
- Future of bod: Fyddi di yno? — Bydda / Na fydda. Fydd hi'n braf? — Bydd / Na fydd.
- Will you? Wnei di helpu? — Gwnaf / Na wnaf (often said Gwna / Na wna).
- May I? Ga i fynd? — Cei / Na chei (to ti), Cewch / Na chewch (to chi).
- Would you like? Hoffech chi baned? — Hoffwn / Na hoffwn.
- Would you? Fyddech chi'n ...? — Byddwn / Na fyddwn; Fasech chi'n ...? — Baswn / Na faswn.
Switch the person. The answer is about the person answering: Fyddwch chi yno? asked to one person — Bydda (I will); asked to a group — Byddwn (we will).
The no. Na (nac before a vowel) causes mixed mutation: bydda → na fydda, gwnaf → na wnaf, cewch → na chewch, oedd → nac oedd.
Two exceptions. Past-tense questions with short verbs are answered do or naddo, whatever the person. Questions that start with something other than a verb are answered ie or nage. For the present of bod, see ydw and nac ydw.
Examples (6)
- Wnei di helpu? Gwnaf.
Will you help? Yes (I will).
- Gawn ni fynd? Cewch.
May we go? Yes (you may).
- Oedd hi yno? Nac oedd.
Was she there? No (she wasn't).
Na becomes nac before the vowel of oedd.
- Fyddi di yno yfory? Bydda.
Will you be there tomorrow? Yes (I will).
- Hoffech chi ddod i'r parti? Hoffwn, diolch.
Would you like to come to the party? Yes, thanks.
- Ga i fenthyg dy bensil di? Cei, wrth gwrs.
Can I borrow your pencil? Yes, of course.
Asked to ti, so the answer is cei.
Common Mistakes
Answering a future question with do.
Wnei di helpu? Do.Wnei di helpu? Gwnaf.Do and naddo are only for past-tense questions. Here, echo the verb: gwnaf (I will).
Keeping the question's person in the answer.
Fyddi di yno? Byddi.Fyddi di yno? Bydda.Answer for yourself: the question says you, so the answer says I.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Echo answers are extended to other tenses and verbs.
Related Patterns
- Ydw / Nac ydwYes and No in the Present: Ydw and Nac Ydw
The same idea in the present of bod.
Level 1 - Do / NaddoYes and No in the Past: Do and Naddo
The exception for past-tense questions.
Level 2 - Ie / NageYes and No to Focused Questions: Ie and Nage
The exception for questions that start with a noun.
Level 3 - Mixed Mutation
The change after na in no answers.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Echo Answers in Other Tenses in Bubblegum
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