gan + Verb-Noun
While Doing: Gan + Verb-Noun
Aeth hi allan gan wenu means She went out smiling. Gan + verb-noun adds a second action that happens at the same time.
How It Works
The pattern. main clause + gan + soft-mutated verb-noun. The gan phrase says what else the same person was doing, or how they did it:
- Aeth hi allan gan wenu. — She went out smiling.
- Aeth o gwmpas y stafell gan ofyn yr un cwestiwn i bawb. — He went round the room asking everyone the same question.
On the news. Journalists use gan to add what someone said or did: ..., gan ddweud bod y penderfyniad yn anodd (..., saying that the decision was difficult).
Fixed phrases. Some gan phrases are everyday expressions:
- gan gynnwys — including
- gan obeithio — hoping (common at the end of letters)
- gan ddymuno — wishing
Gan or wrth? Wrth + verb-noun means while or as, and often gives the moment when something happened: Syrthiodd e wrth redeg (He fell while running). Gan puts the weight on a second action that goes along with the first. In everyday speech wrth is more common.
Other meanings of gan. Gan fod + a clause means since or because. Before a noun, gan means by or from, and it softens the noun like the other soft-mutating prepositions.
Examples (6)
- Aeth hi allan gan wenu.
She went out smiling.
Gwenu softens to wenu after gan.
- Cerddodd e i ffwrdd gan chwerthin.
He walked away laughing.
Chwerthin starts with ch, which does not mutate.
- Mae'r pris yn ugain punt, gan gynnwys TAW.
The price is twenty pounds, including VAT.
- Gan obeithio clywed gennych chi'n fuan.
Hoping to hear from you soon.
A common way to end a formal letter or email.
- Ymddiheurodd y cwmni, gan ddweud bod y broblem wedi'i datrys.
The company apologised, saying that the problem had been solved.
- Atebodd hi gan ysgwyd ei phen.
She answered, shaking her head.
Ei (her) causes aspirate mutation: pen becomes phen.
Common Mistakes
Forgetting the soft mutation after gan.
Aeth hi allan gan gwenu.Aeth hi allan gan wenu.Gan causes soft mutation, so gwenu becomes wenu.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Gan + a softened verb-noun describes an accompanying action.
Related Patterns
- gan fodSince, As: Gan Fod
Gan fod + a clause means since or because.
Level 5 - am, ar, at, dan, dros, drwy, gan, heb, i, o, wrth + Soft MutationSoft Mutation After Prepositions
Gan causes soft mutation, like the other prepositions in this group.
Level 2 - a + Noun + yn (Absolute Clause)With the Rain Falling: A + Noun + Yn
Another way to describe what is going on around the main action.
Level 5 - The Verb-Noun (Berfenw)
Gan is followed by a verb-noun.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice gan + Verb-Noun in Bubblegum
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