Verb First: Welsh Word Order
In a normal Welsh sentence, the verb comes first, then the person or thing doing it: Mae Siân yn darllen (Siân is reading).
How It Works
With bod, the pattern you will use most at first: verb + subject + yn + action + the rest.
- Mae (is) + Siân + yn darllen (reading) = Siân is reading.
- Dw (am) + i (I) + 'n byw (living) + yn Abertawe = I live in Swansea.
Even a pronoun like i (I) comes after the verb. See Bod + Yn + Verb-Noun.
With a short past-tense verb, the order is verb + subject + object: Gwelodd (saw) + Tom + y ffilm (the film). You will learn these verbs in the simple past.
Questions keep the verb first too. The verb just changes form: Mae Siân yn darllen → Ydy Siân yn darllen? See Present Questions With Bod.
A time word can come first, followed by a comma: Heddiw, mae hi'n braf (Today, it's fine). Putting a noun or name first is a special pattern used for emphasis or to say who someone is, as in Athro dw i (I'm a teacher). See athro dw i and fronted focus sentences.
Examples (6)
- Mae Siân yn darllen.
Siân is reading.
Word by Word: Is Siân reading.
The verb mae comes first, then the subject Siân.
- Mae'r plant yn chwarae yn yr ardd.
The children are playing in the garden.
Word by Word: Is the children playing in the garden.
- Dw i'n byw yn Abertawe.
I live in Swansea.
Word by Word: Am I living in Swansea.
The pronoun i (I) follows the verb dw.
- Gwelodd Tom y ffilm.
Tom saw the film.
Word by Word: Saw Tom the film.
A short past-tense verb, then the subject, then the object.
- Agorodd Mam y drws.
Mum opened the door.
Word by Word: Opened Mum the door.
- Mae Dafydd yn gweithio heddiw.
Dafydd is working today.
Word by Word: Is Dafydd working today.
Common Mistakes
Putting the subject before the verb, as in English.
Siân mae'n darllen.Mae Siân yn darllen.In a plain statement the verb comes first. Welsh has a separate pattern for putting a person first to stress them, which you will learn later.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- bod + yn + Verb-NounPresent Tense: Bod + Yn + Verb-Noun
The most common verb-first sentence pattern.
Level 1 - Present of bodPresent Tense of Bod
Learn the forms of bod that start these sentences.
Level 1 - mae + Noun SubjectMae with Any Noun Subject
Mae stays the same when a noun follows it.
Level 1 - Present Questions With bod
Questions also start with the verb.
Level 1 - Athro dw iIdentifying Sentences: Athro Dw I
A pattern that puts a noun first to say what someone is.
Level 2 - Emphasis by Fronting
Later, put a word first to emphasise it.
Level 4
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice Verb First: Welsh Word Order in Bubblegum
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