Language/Welsh/Grammar/Question-Words

Welsh → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Questions and Negation → Question Words

Asking questions is an essential component of any language, Welsh not being an exception. In this lesson, you will learn how to form basic questions in Welsh as well as the question words that will make your Welsh vocabulary richer.

Basic Question Structure

In Welsh, just like in English, to form a question, the word order changes from the declarative order. In the declarative order, the structure is: subject - verb - object (SVO). In the interrogative order, the verb comes before the subject (VSO).

Here is an example to illustrate this change:

• Declarative: Mae Siân yn hoffi coffi. (Siân likes coffee.)
• Interrogative: Ydy Siân yn hoffi coffi? (Does Siân like coffee?)

As you can see, the verb 'Mae' changed to 'Ydy' (the affirmative changed to the negative) and the subject 'Siân' follows the verb.

Some Welsh verbs undergo changes to form questions. For instance, the verb 'gwneud' (to do/make) changes to 'wneud' when forming a question.

Declarative	Interrogative
Mae'r plant yn chwarae yn yr ardd.	Ydy'r plant yn chwarae yn yr ardd?
Dw i'n hoffi cig.	Wyt ti'n hoffi cig?
Dydy hi ddim yn hoffi coffi.	Ydy hi'n hoffi coffi?

Question Words

In Welsh, question words are used to form open-ended questions that require more than yes or no answers. They usually begin with a question word and change the sentence structure to VSO.

Here are the six question words in Welsh:

• Pwy - Who
• Beth - What
• Pryd - When
• Ble - Where
• Pam - Why
• Sut - How

We use a question word to ask about the specific information we want to know. For instance:

• Pwy yw'r dyn? - Who is the man?
• Beth wyt ti'n bwyta? - What are you eating?
• Pryd ydych chi'n mynd i'r sinema? - When are you going to the cinema?
• Ble ydych chi wedi blino? - Where are you tired?
• Pam mae Siân yn chwerthin? - Why is Siân laughing?
• Sut wyt ti'n teimlo? - How are you feeling?

It is essential to note that the question word always comes first in a question.

Forming Questions

Here's how to form a question using the example sentence 'Mae Siân yn hoffi coffi?' ('Does Siân like coffee?')

1. Start by taking the declarative sentence. 2. Switch the verb 'Mae' and the subject 'Siân.' (Ydy is used when the sentence is negative) 3. Add the question word 'yn' to complete the question.

So you have:

• Declarative: Mae Siân yn hoffi coffi.
• Interrogative: Ydy Siân yn hoffi coffi?

Here's another example:

• Declarative: Dw i'n mynd i'r siop.
• Interrogative: Wyt ti'n mynd i'r siop?

Note that the word order for SVO sentences remains the same. Thus, you can say:

• Siân yn hoffi coffi - Siân likes coffee.

Practice

Now, it's time to practice forming questions with question words. Use the prompts below to ask questions about the information provided.

• Pwy yw'r dyn? - Rhys
• Beth wyt ti'n gwisgo? - Jumper pinc
• Pryd ydych chi'n mynd i'r sinema? - Dydd Iau
• Ble mae'r drws? - Yn y gwaelod
• Pam ydy'r ci'n gawlio'r cad oedd e wedi'i roi yno? - Oherwydd roedd hi'n brysur yn chwilio am ei bawennau.
• Sut ydych chi'n teimlo? - Blino

Answers:

• Pwy yw'r dyn? - Rhys / Pwy yw Rhys?
• Beth wyt ti'n gwisgo? - Jumper pinc / Beth yw'r dillad y mae gennych chi arnoch chi?
• Pryd ydych chi'n mynd i'r sinema? - Dydd Iau / Pryd ydych chi'n mynd i'r sinema?
• Ble mae'r drws? - Yn y gwaelod / Ble mae'r drws yn y tŷ?
• Pam ydy'r ci'n cawlio'r cad oedd e wedi'i roi yno? - Oherwydd roedd hi'n brysur yn chwilio am ei bawennau. / Pam y mae'r ci yn cawlio'r cad roedd e wedi'i roi yno?
• Sut ydych chi'n teimlo? - Blino / Sut ydych chi'n teimlo heddiw?

Conclusion

You have now learned the Welsh question words and how to form basic questions. Keep practicing to hone your learning. This knowledge will make you a better communicator in Welsh.

Table of Contents - Welsh Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

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Pronouns and Verbs

• Personal Pronouns
• To Be and To Have

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Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-10
• Telling Time

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Questions and Negation

• Question Words
• Negation

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Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationships

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Adjectives and Adverbs

• Describing People
• Describing Actions

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Food and Drink

• Common Foods
• Eating and Drinking

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Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Using Prepositions
• Using Conjunctions

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Welsh Traditions and Celebrations

• Holidays and Festivals
• Traditional Music and Dance

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Hobbies and Leisure

• Common Hobbies
• Leisure Activities

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Present Continuous and Future

• Present Continuous Tense
• Talking About the Future

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Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Asking for Directions

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Welsh Literature and History

• Famous Welsh Writers
• Welsh History

Other Lessons

• Personal Pronouns
• Describing People
• Questions
• Talking About the Future
• Negation
• The article
• 0 to A1 Course
• Give your Opinion
• Plurals

Sources

• Welsh Grammar : Colloquial Welsh mutation patterns with question ...
• 0827e Welsh Course - Emphasising question words (What the devil ...
• Fun & Easy Welsh Question Words | Speech Bubbles | Twinkl