Other Rules

Question 1

Genitival construction mutations

Answer 1

Note: another rule of lenition (Grammar Survey p. 5, rule 1c) comes into play in these constructions. If the first noun is feminine, and the second is not preceded by the definite article, the second noun is lenited. For example: ynys (f.) Brydein ‘the Isle of Britain’ (the unmutated form of the name is Prydein), or llong (f.) wyr ‘the ship of men’ (where gwyr is the unmutated plural of gwr ‘man’).

Question 2

Forming compound

Answer 2

Adjective + noun as one, noun lenited

Question 3

Forming equative

Answer 3

Usually, add -et to end and kyn^L to front. The object of comparison (the ‘Y’) is linked to the adjective by means of the conjunction a(c)S,

Question 4

kyn dewet a Phwyll

Answer 4

as fat as Pwyll

Question 5

Forming comparative

Answer 5

In order to form the comparative (‘more X than Y’), you add the ending -ach to the adjective. The object of comparison (the ‘Y’) is linked by means of no(c)S,

Question 6

tewach no Phwyll

Answer 6

fatter than Pwyll

Question 7

Type of sentence/thing going on: Mi a welaf gwr a gar yr hela

Answer 7

Relative clause (proper)

Question 8

Tell-tale sign of proper relative clause

Answer 8

Use of “a” (typically absent in improper), basically to make a subject or object do an additional thing in an abnormal order construction

Question 9

Type of sentence/thing going on: mi a welaf y coedyd y foassant udunt

Answer 9

Relative clause (improper)

Question 10

what example of? gan “with” → y gan(n) “from (a person)”

Answer 10

example of compound preposition using “y” (for)

Question 11

can = “because, since”. canys/kanys meaning?

Answer 11

“because it is”

Question 12

canyt

Answer 12

“because not”

Question 13

Weird word order thing with canys

Answer 13

Early/Middle Welsh: canys triggers Mixed Order

Question 14

What is “sef”

Answer 14

contracted form of ys ef = “it is he / it is”

Question 15

Where does sef always appear

Answer 15

beginning of sentence

Question 16

sef yw hwn

Answer 16

this is him

Question 17

sef y doethant

Answer 17

then/in this way they came (usually sef is “this is” or “it is”. Here it’s basically just “then”

Question 18

sef ual y kymerth ef y ddinas

Answer 18

this is how we took the city

Question 19

Pwy

Answer 19

Who

Question 20

Pa

Answer 20

What/WhichP

Question 21

Py

Answer 21

Older version of Pa

Question 22

Nominativus pendens construction

Answer 22

a construction in which a noun phrase is placed at the beginning of a sentence but is resumed later by a pronoun in the main clause. Eg. Y brenin, ef a doeth → the king, he came

Question 23

example of what? Y gŵr hwnnw, mi a’i gwelais

Answer 23

Nominativus pendens construction

Question 24

Presence of the copula (often ys) at the start: o Ys mi a’e heirch → “It is I who ask for her” means what word order when distinguishing between abnormal and mixed order

Answer 24

mixed

Question 25

Negative clauses where the negative particle nyt or ny (historically a negative copula) precedes the emphasized element: o Nyt tidi a gredaf → “It is not you I will believe” o Compare: Tidi ny chredaf → “I will not believe you” (no emphasis on “you”) means what word order, abnormal or mixed?

Answer 25

mixed. the fronted item is specially marked and carries rhetorical or emphatic weight.