bod 'that' Clause
That-Clauses with Bod
To say I think that ..., change mae to bod: Dw i'n meddwl bod Siân yn dod (I think that Siân is coming).
How It Works
How to build it. Take a sentence with mae or roedd, and replace that verb with bod:
- Mae'r siop ar gau. → Dw i'n gwybod bod y siop ar gau. (I know that the shop is closed.)
- Roedd y trên yn hwyr. → Dwedodd hi bod y trên yn hwyr. (She said that the train was late.)
Is or was? Bod can mean both that ... is and that ... was. The main verb and the context tell you which: Roedd hi'n dweud bod y bwyd yn oer (She was saying that the food was cold).
Bod or fod? You will hear both. After a short past verb and its subject it is often softened: Dwedodd hi fod .... Both are fine in speech.
Common starters: Dw i'n meddwl bod (I think that), Dw i'n credu bod (I believe that), Dw i'n gwybod bod (I know that), Dw i'n siŵr bod (I'm sure that), Gobeithio bod (I hope that), Efallai bod (Maybe; falle bod in the South, ella bod in the North).
Something that has happened. Use bod + wedi: Dw i'n credu bod y bws wedi mynd (I think the bus has gone).
With pronouns, careful Welsh uses fy mod i, ei fod e, and speech often says bod fi, bod hi. For the future, use y bydd. To stress one word, use mai or taw.
Examples (6)
- Dw i'n meddwl bod Siân yn dod.
I think (that) Siân is coming.
- Dw i'n gwybod bod y siop ar gau.
I know (that) the shop is closed.
- Dwedodd e fod y trên yn hwyr.
He said (that) the train was late.
Bod softens to fod after dwedodd e. Here it means that ... was. South: e. In the North: Dwedodd o fod y trên yn hwyr.
- Gobeithio bod popeth yn iawn.
I hope everything is OK.
- Dw i'n credu bod y bws wedi mynd.
I think the bus has gone.
Bod + wedi reports something that has happened.
- Wyt ti'n siŵr bod y drws ar glo?
Are you sure the door is locked?
Common Mistakes
Keeping mae after a verb of thinking or saying.
Dw i'n meddwl mae Siân yn dod.Dw i'n meddwl bod Siân yn dod.After I think, I know or she said, mae changes to bod.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Bod replaces a present or imperfect form of bod to mean 'that'.
Related Patterns
- fy mod i / ei fod eThat I Am, That He Is: Fy Mod I
The forms with pronouns: that I am, that he is.
Level 4 - y + Future 'that' ClauseThat-Clauses with Y: Y Bydd
That-clauses about the future.
Level 4 - mai / tawThat It Is: Mai and Taw (South)
That-clauses that stress one word.
Level 4 - Reported Speech
Reporting what someone said.
Level 4 - efallai / falle / ellaMaybe: Efallai (Falle, Ella)
Maybe is often followed by bod.
Level 2 - achos / oherwyddBecause: Achos and Oherwydd
Because also takes a bod clause.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice bod 'that' Clause in Bubblegum
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