a + Noun + yn (Absolute Clause)
With the Rain Falling: A + Noun + Yn
Cerddodd hi adref a'r glaw yn disgyn — She walked home with the rain falling, or while the rain was falling. A little clause with a sets the scene.
How It Works
The pattern. main clause + a + noun or pronoun + the rest:
- + yn + verb-noun: a'r glaw yn disgyn — with the rain falling
- + yn + adjective: a'r haul yn boeth — with the sun hot
- + wedi + verb-noun: a'r plant wedi mynd i'r gwely — when the children had gone to bed
- + a place or state: a'i got amdano — with his coat on; a'i llygaid ar gau — with her eyes closed
A, ac and mutation. Use ac before a vowel, and a'r or a'i before the article or a possessive. A causes aspirate mutation: a phlentyn yn ei breichiau (with a child in her arms). See A and Ac.
With pronouns. The pronoun is usually one of the linking forms: a finnau'n cysgu (while I was asleep), ac yntau newydd gyrraedd (when he had only just arrived). See Finnau, Tithau.
What it means. The clause gives the background. Context tells you whether English needs with, while, as, when or although: Mae hi'n dal i weithio, a hithau'n wyth deg oed (She still works, although she's eighty).
No tense of its own. Like I + Subject + Verb-Noun, the clause has no verb that shows time; it takes its time from the main clause.
Examples (6)
- Cerddodd hi adref a'r glaw yn disgyn.
She walked home with the rain falling.
- Daeth e i mewn a'i got amdano.
He came in with his coat on.
Southern forms: e and cot (coat). The North says Daeth o i mewn a'i gôt amdano. Amdano (around him) here means "on him".
- Eisteddodd hi yno a'i llygaid ar gau.
She sat there with her eyes closed.
- Ffoniodd Mam a finnau yn y gawod.
Mum phoned while I was in the shower.
With a pronoun, the linking form finnau is usual.
- Mae hi'n dal i weithio, a hithau'n wyth deg oed.
She still works, although she's eighty.
- Cyrhaeddon ni adref a'r plant wedi mynd i'r gwely.
We got home when the children had already gone to bed.
How It Connects
Learn This First
A + noun + yn/wedi forms an absolute clause of circumstance.
Related Patterns
- finnau / tithau / hithauMe Too, And You: Finnau, Tithau
Pronouns in these clauses are usually the linking forms: a finnau'n ...
Level 5 - bod + yn + Verb-NounPresent Tense: Bod + Yn + Verb-Noun
The yn + verb-noun part works as it does after bod.
Level 1 - gan + Verb-NounWhile Doing: Gan + Verb-Noun
Gan + verb-noun adds an action done by the same person.
Level 5 - i + Subject + Verb-NounFor Someone to Do: I + Subject + Verb-Noun
Another clause with its own subject but no tense of its own.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice a + Noun + yn (Absolute Clause) in Bubblegum
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