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1273e “An Elementary Welsh Grammar” by John
Morris-Jones (1864-1929), professor of Welsh at Coleg y Brifysgol (
Comparison
of Adjectives
They
may be compared in two ways.
In Method 1 an ending is added
|
Radical |
Comparative |
Superlative |
|
oer |
oerach na |
oeraf oera' |
|
cold |
colder than |
coldest |
In Method
2 the adjective is preceded by a modifier
|
Radical |
Comparative |
Superlative |
|
diddorol |
mwÿ diddorol na |
mwÿaf diddorol mwÿa' diddorol |
|
interesting |
more interesting than |
the most interesting |
(1) The
general rule is - short words take endings (Method 1), long words (two
syllables or more) are preceded by the modifier (Method 2). The system is
similar to the English system.
(2) However, short forms may also be preceded by mwÿ / mwÿaf; and some two-syllable
words may take -ach, -af
(3) The final 'f' is not pronounced in spoken Welsh
When
an ending is added, there may be a vowel change
ai > ei
aw > o
w > y
ÿ > y
main > meinach (slender, more slender)
tlawd > tlotach (poor, poorer)
dwfn > dyfnach (deep, deeper)
crÿf > cryfach (strong, stronger)
The
sounds b, d, g at the end of an adjective become p, t, c if -ach
or -af are added
pwÿsig (important) - pwÿsicach (more important) - pwÿsicaf (most
important)
tlawd (poor) - tlotach (poorer) - tlotaf (poorest)
gwlÿb (wet) - gwlypach (wetter) - gwlypaf (wettest)
This is because -af was originally -haf, and the
b + h > p
d + h > t
g + h > c
Although -ach was never '-hach', and so we should expect no change of b, d, g,
it has been influenced by the ending '-haf'.
There
is also an equative degree of comparison
which may be formed in two ways
oer - cold
mor oer â / cÿn oered â - as cold as
Both mor and cÿn cause soft mutation (c p t g b d m - but not ll, rh)
A
number of adjectives have irregular comparisons. Some have more developed
regular forms which are used colloquially. The forms used in colloquial speech
are in red.
|
radical |
equative |
comparative |
superlative |
|
da = good |
cystal |
gwell |
gorau (gore) |
|
da = good |
mor dda |
* |
* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
drwg = bad |
cynddrwg |
gwaeth (gwa'th) |
gwaethaf (gwaetha') |
|
drwg = bad |
mor ddrwg |
* |
* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
mawr = big |
cymaint (cymint) |
mwÿ |
mwÿaf (mwÿa') |
|
mawr = big |
mor fawr |
* |
* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
bach = small |
cynlleied |
llai |
lleiaf (lleia',
ll'ia'') |
|
bach = small |
mor fach |
* |
* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
hen = old |
cÿn hened |
hÿn |
hynaf (hyna') |
|
hen = old |
mor hên |
henach |
hena' |
|
|
|
|
|
|
ieuanc = young |
cÿn ieuenged |
iau |
ieuaf |
|
ifanc = young |
mor ifanc |
ifancach |
ifancaf (ifanca') |
|
|
|
|
|
|
hawdd = easy |
cÿn hawdded |
haws |
hawsaf (hawsa') |
|
hawdd = easy |
mor hawdd |
hawddach / mwÿ hawdd |
hawddaf (hawdda')
/ mwÿa' hawdd |
|
|
|
|
|
|
anodd = difficult |
cÿn anhawdded |
anos |
anhawsaf |
|
anodd = difficult |
mor anodd |
anoddach / mwÿ anodd |
anoddaf (anodda')
/ mwÿa' anodd |
|
|
|
|
|
|
agos = near |
cÿn agosed |
nes |
nesaf (nesa') |
|
agos = near |
mor agos |
agosach |
agosaf (agosa') |
|
|
|
|
|
|
hir = long |
cÿn hired |
hwÿ |
hwÿaf (hwÿa') |
|
hir = long |
mor hir |
hirach |
hiraf (hira') |
|
|
|
|
|
|
uchel = high |
cyfúwch |
uwch |
uchaf (ucha') |
|
uchel = high |
mor uchel |
* |
* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
isel = low |
cÿn ised |
is |
isaf (isa') |
|
isel = low |
mor isel |
* |
* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
cynnar
= early |
mor gynnar mor fuan |
cÿnt cynharach |
cyntaf
(cynta') cynharaf
(cynhara') |
·····
Note
that cÿnt = sooner, quicker; cyntaf = first
In literary
Welsh, it is possible to use the construction
(equative / comparative / superlative adjective) + (noun).
Sometimes this is possible too in spoken Welsh.
There is no soft mutation, except in the case of
(definite article) + (superlative adjective) + (femionine noun).
cÿn dlysed merch (such a pretty girl) (literary Welsh)
tlsyach merch (a more beautiful girl) (literary Welsh)
y dlysaf ferch (the most beautiful girl) (literary Welsh)
Than is 'na' before a consonant, 'nag' before a vowel.
'Na' causes spirant mutation of c p t
oerach nag e - colder than him
oerach na hi - colder than her
oerach na chan mlynedd yn ôl - colder than a hundred years ago
USE OF
THE EQUATIVE
Remember:
both mor and cÿn cause soft mutation (c p t g b d m - but not ll,
rh)
Note: â is used to express 'as'. It causes spirant mutation of c p t. Before a
vowel it becomes 'ag'.
Mae hwn cystal â hon - this is as good as that.
Note - 'yn' is NEVER used with the equative adjective
Mae hwn yn gystal â hon
It can
be used directly after a noun, as is a radical adjective
dÿn da - a good man
dÿn cystal â chi - a man as good as you
But
there is no soft mutation of an equative form
gwraig dda - a good woman
gwraig cystal â chi - a woman as good as you
gwraig mor dda - such a good woman
Gwraig gystal â chi
Gwraig for dda
It may
be used as an adverb
Wÿddwn i ddim ei bod yn canu cystal - I didn't know she sung so well
Mae'n rhedeg mor gyflÿm - He runs so fast
Note
the following idiom:
cystal
i mi
= I may as well
Cystal i mi fÿnd - I may as well go
(it) (is) as-good to me go
USE OF
THE COMPARATIVE
Mae hi'n dalach na fi - she's taller than me
Mae hwnnw'n fwÿ diddorol na hwn - that's more interesting than this
After yn there is soft mutation
Mae hi'n talach na fi
mae hwnnw'n mwÿ diddorol na hwn
It can
be used directly after a noun, as is a radical adjective. It behaves as a
radical adjective - there is soft mutation after a feminine singular noun
dÿn talach - a taller man
gwraig dalach - a taller woman
gwraig fwÿ diddorol - a more interesting woman
gwraig mwÿ diddorol
It may
be used as an adverb after 'yn'
Rw i'n teimlo'n well - I feel better
Mae'n rhedeg yn gyflymach - He runs faster, he's running faster
Note
the following idiom:
gwell i mi = I'd better
Gwell i mi fÿnd - I'd better go
(it) (is) better to me go
Modifiers
with the comparative:
llawer
= a lot
llawer gwell = a lot better
llawer yn well = a lot better
gwell o lawer = a lot better
cymaint
yn well = so much better
as an adverb:
gymaint yn well = so much better
In
North Wales 'hwÿrach' (literally 'later') is used in the sense of 'perhaps'.
Hwÿrach ei fod o wedi colli'i ffordd - maybe he's lost his way
USE OF
THE SUPERLATIVE
It is
used where the comparative would be used in English in comparing two persons or
things
Fe ÿw'r gorau o'r ddau - He's the better of the two
The
superlative may be used following a noun, or insted of a noun
Fe ÿw'r bachgen tala' - he's the tallest boy
Fe ÿw'r tala' - he's the tallest
Hi ÿw'r ferch dala' - she's the tallest girl
Hi ÿw'r dala' - she's the tallest
It may
be used as an adverb after 'yn'
Fe a'i gwnaeth yn rhata' - he did it cheapest
The word gorau may be 'yn orau' or simply 'orau'
Fe ganodd ore - he sang best
Fi sÿ'n gw'bod ore - I know best
Note:
fwÿaf = for the most part, mostly
fynychaf = most often
Examples:
ADVERBIAL
USE
Mor
ddidramgwÿdd
â phlentÿn, ebe Morgan...
As unfalteringly as a child, Morgan said...
Y Lloft Fach / D. Rhagfÿr Jones / 1908 / t143
barnodd...
taw gwell oedd iddÿnt fod ar yr ochr dddiofelaf i'r berth
He gave his opinion that it would be better for them to be on the safe side of
the fence
Y Lloft Fach / D. Rhagfÿr Jones / 1908 / t142
Yr
oedd mor gyfarwÿdd yn y benod ag un benod yn y Beibl
He was as familiar with the verse as he was with any other in the Bible
Y Lloft Fach / D. Rhagfÿr Jones / 1908 / t156
Mae llawer
yn well, on'd ÿw e?
He's a lot better, isn't he?
Y Lloft Fach / D. Rhagfÿr Jones / 1908 / t157
Ddoe,
roedd o'n gryfach i fÿw ac yn wanach i farw; heddÿ' mae o'n wanach i fÿw
ac yn gryfach i farw
Yesterday, he was stronger (more resolved) to live and weaker (less resolved)
to die; today he's weaker to live and stronger to die
Y Lloft Fach / D. Rhagfÿr Jones / 1908 / t157
Daeth gymaint
yn well nes iddo gael ei demtio i gredu ei fod yn gwella
He improved so much ('he came so much better') that he was tempted to believe
he was getting better
Y Lloft Fach / D. Rhagfÿr Jones / 1908 / t157
Yr
oedd y darn yma yn llaith ar y tywÿdd sychaf
This part was damp (even) in the driest weather
Y Lloft Fach / D. Rhagfÿr Jones / 1908 / t160
Yr
oedd yno beth blodau gwylltion yn codi eu penau rhwng y cerig... Dant y llew
oedd rheinÿ fwÿaf
There were some flowers raising their heads between the stones... They were
dandelions for the most part / they were mostly dandelions
Y Lloft Fach / D. Rhagfÿr Jones / 1908 / t161
- Ble
ma hi'n achwÿn fwÿa'? - Yn 'i brest
Where does she complain mostly? (where does she have most pain) - In her chest
Y Lloft Fach / D. Rhagfÿr Jones / 1908 / t163
A dyma
fyddai'r siarad fynychaf
And that would be the talk most often (that's what they'd generally talk about)
Y Lloft Fach / D. Rhagfÿr Jones / 1908 / t162
Nid cÿnt
y daeth hynÿ i'w feddwl nag y dywedodd:
No sooner did this come to his mind than he said...
Y Lloft Fach / D. Rhagfÿr Jones / 1908 / t169
Eisteddodd
Mat i lawr fflatied a ffroisen
Mat sat down as flat as a pancake (= with his spirit severely dented)
Y Lloft Fach / D. Rhagfÿr Jones / 1908 / t169
Mae
llawer o ddoctoriaid y'meddwl 'i fod o'n perthÿn i'w swÿdd i dyngu a rhegi. Ond
'does dim bÿd yn fwÿ isel
Many doctors think it goes with the job to curse and swear. But there's nothing
more vulgar
Y Lloft Fach / D. Rhagfÿr Jones / 1908 / t169
cadw
math o westÿ y buont yno nes i'r henaf o'r ddwÿ farw
they kept some sort of hotel until the elder one died
Y Lloft Fach / D. Rhagfÿr Jones / 1908 / t179
Mor
bell
ag yr oeddwn yn gallu deall...
as far as I could make out...
Y Lloft Fach / D. Rhagfÿr Jones / 1908 / t169
Arferai
Jeff gymerÿd cymaint o arian ag oedd yn y tÿ weithiau
Jeff used to take as much money as there was in the house sometimes
Y
Lloft Fach / D. Rhagfÿr Jones / 1908 / t180
Yr
oedd wedi llwÿddo i guddio ei thraciau lwÿred a phe byddai yn dianc o
afael y gyfraith
He'd managed to cover his tracks as completely as if he were fleeing from the
law
Y
Lloft Fach / D. Rhagfÿr Jones / 1908 / t181
Adolygiad
diweddaraf / Darrera actualització 30 05
1999
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