Present Negatives With ddim

Level 1

To say "not" in the present, use the negative form of bod and put ddim after the subject: Dw i ddim yn hoffi te (I don't like tea).

How It Works

The forms:

  • Dw i ddim yn ... — I'm not / I don't
  • Dwyt ti ddim yn ... — you're not / you don't
  • Dydy e ddim yn ... (South also Dyw e ddim; North Dydi o ddim) — he isn't / he doesn't
  • Dydy hi ddim yn ... (South also Dyw hi ddim; North Dydi hi ddim) — she isn't / she doesn't
  • Dyn ni ddim yn ... (North: Dan ni ddim) — we aren't / we don't
  • Dych chi ddim yn ... (North: Dach chi ddim) — you aren't / you don't
  • Dyn nhw ddim yn ... (South; North and standard writing: Dydyn nhw ddim) — they aren't / they don't

With a noun subject, ddim comes after the noun: Dydy'r siop ddim ar agor (South: Dyw'r siop ddim ar agor). Dydy Siân ddim yn dod.

Always yn after ddim. Ddim ends in a consonant, so the short 'n is not used: Dw i ddim yn gwybod (I don't know).

Without yn, ddim can come straight before a place: Dydy hi ddim yma (She isn't here).

For "there isn't", Welsh uses a different pattern, Does dim; see Oes and Does dim. Formal Welsh uses fuller forms such as Dydw i ddim; see rydw i rydyn ni rydych chi. Southern speech also has short forms like Sa i'n gwybod; see sa i and smo fi.

Examples (6)

  1. Dw i ddim yn hoffi te.

    I don't like tea.

  2. Dwyt ti ddim yn gwrando!

    You're not listening!

  3. Dyw e ddim yn dod heno.

    He isn't coming tonight.

    South: Dyw e ddim. You will also hear Dydy e ddim.

  4. Dydi o ddim yn gweithio heddiw.

    He isn't working today.

    North: Dydi o ddim.

  5. Dyn ni ddim yn byw yma.

    We don't live here.

    North: Dan ni ddim yn byw yma.

  6. Dydy'r siop ddim ar agor.

    The shop isn't open.

    With a noun subject, ddim follows the noun.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'n after ddim.

    Dw i ddim'n hoffi te.
    Dw i ddim yn hoffi te.

    Ddim ends in a consonant, so the linking word is the full yn.

  • Using mae in a negative sentence.

    Mae hi ddim yn dod.
    Dydy hi ddim yn dod.

    A negative needs the negative form of bod: dydy (dyw in the South, dydi in the North), not mae.

How It Connects

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Present Negatives With ddimLevel 1

Learn This First

Present negatives add ddim to the present forms of bod.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

dim