mae + Noun Subject
Mae with Any Noun Subject
Before a noun, use mae, even when there is more than one: Mae'r plant yn chwarae (The children are playing).
How It Works
Compare:
- Mae'r plant yn chwarae. — The children are playing.
- Maen nhw'n chwarae. — They are playing.
The rule: if the subject is a noun, use the singular form of the verb. This is true for plural nouns and for two or more names joined by a or ac: Mae Siân ac Aled yn dod. Use a plural form only with the pronoun nhw (or with ni and chi, which have their own forms).
It works in every tense you will learn later:
- Past states: Roedd y plant yn hapus, but Roedden nhw'n hapus. See roeddwn i.
- Simple past: Aeth y plant adref, but Aethon nhw adref. See es i des i ces i gwnes i.
- Future: Bydd y plant yno, but Byddan nhw yno. See bydda i byddi di bydd.
The same mae is used to say that something exists: Mae llawer o bobl yma (There are lots of people here). See There Is and There Are: Mae.
Examples (6)
- Mae'r plant yn chwarae.
The children are playing.
A plural noun subject still takes mae.
- Maen nhw'n chwarae.
They are playing.
With the pronoun nhw, use maen.
- Mae Siân ac Aled yn dod heno.
Siân and Aled are coming tonight.
Two names are still nouns, so the verb is mae.
- Mae'r siopau ar gau.
The shops are closed.
- Roedd y plant yn hapus.
The children were happy.
Past tense: roedd, not roedden, with a noun subject.
- Aeth y plant adref.
The children went home.
Simple past: aeth, not aethon, with a noun subject.
Common Mistakes
Using the plural form maen with a plural noun.
Maen y plant yn chwarae.Mae'r plant yn chwarae.A noun subject always takes mae, even when it is plural.
Using mae with the pronoun nhw.
Mae nhw'n chwarae.Maen nhw'n chwarae.With the pronoun nhw you do need the plural form maen.
How It Connects
Learn This First
A noun subject keeps singular mae, which relies on bod's present forms and the verb-first order.
Related Patterns
- mae + Indefinite NounThere Is and There Are: Mae
Mae also means "there is" or "there are".
Level 1 - roeddwn iPast of Bod: Roeddwn I
The same rule in the past: roedd with nouns.
Level 2 - es i / des i / ces i / gwnes iIrregular Past: Mynd, Dod, Cael, Gwneud
The same rule with short past forms: aeth with nouns.
Level 2 - bydda i / byddi di / byddFuture of Bod: Bydda I
The same rule in the future: bydd with nouns.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice mae + Noun Subject in Bubblegum
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