Language/Welsh/Grammar/Future-Tense
Hi Welsh learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will focus on the Welsh future tense. By the end of this lesson, you will know how to form and use this tense. We will also include cultural information and interesting facts about Wales to make the lesson more engaging. Let's get started!
Introduction[edit | edit source]
The future tense in Welsh is used to describe actions or events that will happen in the future. This tense is essential in everyday conversations and can help you to communicate effectively with native speakers. To form the Welsh future tense, you need to use a combination of verb stems, suffixes, and endings.
Once you've mastered this lesson, take a look at these related pages: How to Use Have & Plurals.
Forming the Future Tense[edit | edit source]
In Welsh, there are three ways to form the future tense: the simple future, the future perfect, and the future progressive. We will focus on the simple future tense in this lesson.
The Simple Future Tense[edit | edit source]
To form the simple future tense in Welsh, follow these rules: 1. Take the verb stem (usually the infinitive form of the verb without the 'r' or 'er' ending). 2. Add the ending '-af' to the stem if the subject is 'I' (Fi). 3. Add the ending '-i' to the stem if the subject is 'you' (Ti). 4. Add the ending '-a' to the stem if the subject is 'he', 'she', or 'it' (Fe, Hi, or Efe). 5. Add the ending '-wn' to the stem if the subject is 'we' (Ni). 6. Add the ending '-wch' to the stem if the subject is 'you' (Chi). 7. Add the ending '-ant' to the stem if the subject is 'they' (Nhw).
Here is an example of how to form the Welsh future tense using the verb 'gweithio' (to work):
Welsh | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
Gweithiaf | gwye-THEE-av | I will work |
Gweithi | gwye-THEE | You will work |
Gweithia | gwye-THEE-a | He/She/It will work |
Gweithiwn | gwye-THEE-oon | We will work |
Gweithiwch | gwye-THEE-ooch | You will work (plural) |
Gweithiant | gwye-THEE-ant | They will work |
The Future Perfect[edit | edit source]
The future perfect tense in Welsh is used to talk about an action that will be completed by a certain time in the future. To form the future perfect tense, use the future tense of the auxiliary verb 'bod' (to be) followed by the past participle of the main verb.
Here is an example of how to form the Welsh future perfect tense using the verb 'chwarae' (to play):
Welsh | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
Byddaf wedi chwarae | BUTH-av WED-ee CHWA-rye | I will have played |
Byddi wedi chwarae | BUTH-ee WED-ee CHWA-rye | You will have played |
Bydd e/hi wedi chwarae | BUTH eh/HE WED-ee CHWA-rye | He/She/It will have played |
Byddwn wedi chwarae | BUTH-oon WED-ee CHWA-rye | We will have played |
Byddwch wedi chwarae | BUTH-ooch WED-ee CHWA-rye | You will have played (plural) |
Byddant wedi chwarae | BUTH-ant WED-ee CHWA-rye | They will have played |
The Future Progressive[edit | edit source]
The future progressive tense in Welsh is used to talk about an ongoing action that will happen in the future. To form the future progressive tense, use the future tense of the auxiliary verb 'bod' (to be) followed by the present participle of the main verb.
Here is an example of how to form the Welsh future progressive tense using the verb 'darllen' (to read):
Welsh | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
Byddaf yn darllen | BUTH-av un DAR-then | I will be reading |
Byddi yn darllen | BUTH-ee un DAR-then | You will be reading |
Bydd e/hi yn darllen | BUTH eh/HE un DAR-then | He/She/It will be reading |
Byddwn yn darllen | BUTH-oon un DAR-then | We will be reading |
Byddwch yn darllen | BUTH-ooch un DAR-then | You will be reading (plural) |
Byddant yn darllen | BUTH-ant un DAR-then | They will be reading |
Using the Future Tense[edit | edit source]
In Welsh, the future tense is used in the following situations:
- To talk about future plans or intentions
- To make predictions about the future
- To make promises or commitments about the future
- In conditional clauses to describe future hypothetical situations
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
Person 1: Byddwch chi'n dod i'r parti wythnos nesaf? (Will you come to the party next week?) Person 2: Ydw, byddaf yn dod gyda fy ffrind. (Yes, I will come with my friend.)
Person 1: Beth fyddwch chi'n gwneud ar y penwythnos? (What will you do on the weekend?) Person 2: Byddaf yn mynd am dro ar y bryniau. (I will go for a walk on the hills.)
Cultural Information[edit | edit source]
Wales is a country with a rich history and culture. One of the most distinctive things about Welsh culture is the Welsh language itself. Welsh is a difficult language to learn, but it is also a language that is rich in nuance and meaning. For instance, Welsh has no direct equivalent to the English word 'yes'. Instead, Welsh speakers nod their heads or use phrases like 'do' or 'ie' to indicate agreement.
Another interesting fact about Wales is that the Welsh flag features a red dragon on a green and white background. The dragon was used as a symbol of Wales by the ancient Romans, and it has remained a symbol of Welsh identity ever since.
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
We hope that this lesson has helped you to understand the Welsh future tense better. Remember that practice makes perfect, so make sure to use the future tense in your everyday conversations with Welsh speakers. To improve your Welsh speaking skills, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions! Don't forget to review the grammar section on the Grammar page of the Welsh section for more resources.
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Welsh Grammar: Forming the future tense. : r/learnwelsh
- Welsh Skill:Future: Mynd | Duolingo Wiki | Fandom
Excellent job on conquering this lesson! Consider delving into these related pages: Pronouns & Conditional Mood.
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Adjectives
- Pronouns
- How to Use Have
- Questions
- The article
- How to Use Be
- Plurals
- Give your Opinion
- Conditional Mood