taswn i / pe bawn i

If I Were: Taswn I and Pe Bawn I

Level 4

For things that aren't true or probably won't happen ("If I were rich ..."), use taswn i (everyday) or pe bawn i (standard), then a "would" clause.

How It Works

Os or taswn? Os is for real, likely conditions: Os bydd hi'n braf, awn ni i'r traeth. Taswn and pe bawn are for unreal or unlikely ones: Taswn i'n gyfoethog, baswn i'n teithio'r byd. — If I were rich, I'd travel the world.

The forms

  • Everyday: taswn i, taset ti, tasai fe (fo), tasai hi, tasen ni, tasech chi, tasen nhw
  • Standard: pe bawn i, pe baet ti, pe bai e (o), pe bai hi, pe baen ni, pe baech chi, pe baen nhw
  • You will also meet in-between forms such as petawn i and petaswn i.

"If ... were" (now or future): + yn

  • Pe bai hi yma, byddai hi'n helpu. — If she were here, she'd help.
  • Pe bai'r tywydd yn well, basen ni'n mynd allan. — If the weather were better, we'd go out.

"If ... had" (past): + wedi, with baswn i wedi in the other half: Taswn i wedi gwybod, baswn i wedi dod. — If I'd known, I'd have come.

Negative: add ddim: Taswn i ddim wedi blino, baswn i'n dod. — If I weren't tired, I'd come.

Useful phrase: Taswn i yn dy le di ... / Pe bawn i yn dy le di ... — If I were you ... (literally "in your place"). For "unless", see oni bai.

Examples (5)

  1. Taswn i'n gyfoethog, baswn i'n teithio'r byd.

    If I were rich, I'd travel the world.

  2. Pe bai hi yma, byddai hi'n helpu.

    If she were here, she'd help.

  3. Taswn i wedi gwybod, baswn i wedi dod yn gynt.

    If I'd known, I'd have come sooner.

  4. Pe bawn i yn dy le di, byddwn i'n gofyn iddi.

    If I were you, I'd ask her.

  5. Tasen ni'n byw yn nes, bydden ni'n eich gweld chi'n amlach.

    If we lived closer, we'd see you more often.

Common Mistakes

  • Using os for an unreal condition.

    Os baswn i'n gyfoethog, baswn i'n teithio'r byd.
    Taswn i'n gyfoethog, baswn i'n teithio'r byd.

    Os is for real, likely conditions. For "if I were", use taswn i or pe bawn i.

  • Using the future in the other half.

    Taswn i'n gyfoethog, bydda i'n teithio'r byd.
    Taswn i'n gyfoethog, baswn i'n teithio'r byd.

    An unreal "if" goes with "would": baswn i or byddwn i, not the future bydda i.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

taswn i / pe bawn iLevel 4If I Were: Taswn I and Pe Bawn I

Learn This First

Unreal conditions use taswn i or pe bawn i.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

pe