wrth + Verb-Noun
While: Wrth + Verb-Noun
Wrth + a verb-noun says what you were doing when something happened: wrth gerdded adref — while walking home.
How It Works
Same subject
- Gwelais i hi wrth gerdded adref. — I saw her while I was walking home.
- Syrthiodd hi wrth redeg. — She fell while running.
- Roedd hi'n chwibanu wrth weithio. — She whistled as she worked.
"By doing". Wrth can also show how something came about: Brifais i fy nghefn wrth godi'r bocs. — I hurt my back lifting the box. Dych chi'n dysgu wrth wneud camgymeriadau. — You learn by making mistakes.
Different subject: wrth i
- Wrth i ni gyrraedd, dechreuodd hi fwrw glaw. — As we arrived, it started to rain.
- Wrth i'r haul fachlud, aethon ni adref. — As the sun set, we went home.
This works just like ar ôl i and cyn i.
Don't mix it up with the fixed phrases wrth gwrs (of course) and wrth fy modd (delighted), or with wrthi'n (busy doing). After dweud, wrth means "to": see wrtho fe.
North and South. E and i fi are Southern; the North says o and i mi: Syrthiodd o wrth redeg, wrth i mi gyrraedd.
Examples (6)
- Gwelais i hi wrth gerdded adref.
I saw her while I was walking home.
Wrth softens cerdded to gerdded.
- Syrthiodd hi wrth redeg ar ôl y bws.
She fell while running after the bus.
- Mae hi'n gwrando ar y radio wrth goginio.
She listens to the radio while she cooks.
- Brifais i fy nghefn wrth godi'r bocs.
I hurt my back lifting the box.
Wrth + verb-noun can show how something happened: codi softens to godi.
- Wrth i ni gyrraedd, dechreuodd hi fwrw glaw.
As we arrived, it started to rain.
- Paid â siarad wrth fwyta!
Don't talk while you're eating!
Common Mistakes
Forgetting the soft mutation.
Gwelais i hi wrth cerdded adref.Gwelais i hi wrth gerdded adref.Wrth is a soft-mutation trigger, so cerdded becomes gerdded.
Leaving out i before a new subject.
Wrth ni gyrraedd, dechreuodd hi fwrw glaw.Wrth i ni gyrraedd, dechreuodd hi fwrw glaw.When the clause has its own subject, use wrth i + subject + verb-noun.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Wrth takes a softened verb-noun to mean while.
Related Patterns
- ar ôl i / cyn i + SubjectAfter and Before + Subject: Ar Ôl I, Cyn I
Other time words with i + subject.
Level 4 - wrthi'nBusy Doing: Wrthi'n
A different phrase: busy doing something.
Level 4 - pan + Soft MutationWhen: Pan + Soft Mutation
Another way to say when something happened.
Level 3 - gan + Verb-NounWhile Doing: Gan + Verb-Noun
A written way to describe an action happening alongside.
Level 5
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice wrth + Verb-Noun in Bubblegum
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