rhag ofn

In Case: Rhag Ofn

Level 5

Rhag ofn (literally "for fear") means "in case": Cymera ymbarél rhag ofn iddi fwrw glaw — Take an umbrella in case of rain.

How It Works

1. Rhag ofn i + subject + verb-noun (see i + subject + verb-noun)

  • Cymera ymbarél rhag ofn iddi fwrw glaw. — Take an umbrella in case of rain. (weather uses hi, so i becomes iddi)
  • Gadawon ni'n gynnar rhag ofn i ni golli'r bws. — We left early in case we missed the bus.

2. Rhag ofn + bod clause

  • Ffonia gyntaf, rhag ofn bod y siop ar gau. — Phone first, in case the shop is closed.
  • Es i â brechdanau, rhag ofn bod nhw eisiau bwyd. — I took sandwiches in case they were hungry.

3. Rhag ofn y + future (careful style; compare y + future): Bydda i'n gadael yn gynnar rhag ofn y bydd traffig. — I'll leave early in case there's traffic.

On its own: Cer â chot, rhag ofn. — Take a coat, just in case. (Cer and cot are Southern; the North says Dos â chôt. See mynd â.)

In case or if? Rhag ofn is about being ready for something that might happen. For a plain condition, use os: Os bydd hi'n bwrw glaw, arhoswn ni gartref. — If it rains, we'll stay at home.

Examples (6)

  1. Cymera ymbarél rhag ofn iddi fwrw glaw.

    Take an umbrella in case of rain.

  2. Gadawon ni'n gynnar rhag ofn i ni golli'r bws.

    We left early in case we missed the bus.

  3. Ffonia gyntaf, rhag ofn bod y siop ar gau.

    Phone first, in case the shop is closed.

  4. Es i â brechdanau, rhag ofn bod nhw eisiau bwyd.

    I took sandwiches in case they were hungry.

  5. Bydda i'n gadael yn gynnar rhag ofn y bydd traffig.

    I'll leave early in case there's traffic.

    A more careful style: rhag ofn y + the future of bod.

  6. Cer â chot, rhag ofn.

    Take a coat, just in case.

    Cer and cot are Southern; the North says Dos â chôt.

Common Mistakes

  • Not softening the verb-noun after the subject.

    rhag ofn i ni colli'r bws
    rhag ofn i ni golli'r bws

    After i + subject, the verb-noun takes soft mutation: colli becomes golli.

  • Using mae after rhag ofn.

    rhag ofn mae'r siop ar gau
    rhag ofn bod y siop ar gau

    Rhag ofn is followed by a bod clause, i + subject, or y + a future verb, never by mae.

How It Connects

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

rhag ofnLevel 5In Case: Rhag Ofn

Learn This First

Rhag ofn takes an i + subject clause or a bod clause.

Words in This Pattern

rhag ofn