Bod - Imperfect Tense in Welsh

Overview

The imperfect tense of "bod" (to be) is your key to talking about the past at the A2 level. It expresses past states ("I was happy"), ongoing past actions ("I was working"), and habitual past actions ("I used to live in Cardiff"). This tense is the past equivalent of the present tense "dw i'n..." and follows the same periphrastic pattern.

The imperfect tense is heavily used in Welsh storytelling and everyday conversation about the past. Once you know these forms, you can describe how things were, what was happening at a particular time, and what you used to do regularly.

How It Works

Imperfect Forms of Bod

Person	Affirmative	Negative	Question
I	Roeddwn i	Doeddwn i ddim	Oeddwn i...?
You (sg)	Roeddet ti	Doeddet ti ddim	Oeddet ti...?
He	Roedd e/o	Doedd e ddim	Oedd e...?
She	Roedd hi	Doedd hi ddim	Oedd hi...?
We	Roedden ni	Doedden ni ddim	Oedden ni...?
You (pl)	Roeddech chi	Doeddech chi ddim	Oeddech chi...?
They	Roedden nhw	Doedden nhw ddim	Oedden nhw...?

Usage Pattern

The imperfect uses the same "yn + verb-noun/adjective" pattern as the present:

Welsh	English
Roeddwn i'n hapus.	I was happy.
Roedd hi'n bwrw glaw.	It was raining.
Roedden ni'n byw yma.	We used to live here.

Examples in Context

Welsh	English	Note
Roeddwn i'n hapus.	I was happy.	Past state
Roedd hi'n bwrw glaw ddoe.	It was raining yesterday.	Past weather
Roedden ni'n byw yng Nghaerdydd.	We used to live in Cardiff.	Habitual past
Doeddwn i ddim yn gwybod.	I didn't know.	Negative
Oedd e'n gweithio?	Was he working?	Question
Roedd y plant yn chwarae.	The children were playing.	Description
Doedd hi ddim yn oer.	It wasn't cold.	Negative
Roeddwn i'n arfer mynd bob dydd.	I used to go every day.	With "arfer"
Roedd e'n byw yn Aberystwyth.	He lived in Aberystwyth.	Past location
Oeddech chi'n mwynhau?	Were you enjoying?	Formal question

Common Mistakes

Confusing imperfect with preterite

• Wrong: Using roeddwn i for completed single events
• Right: Use roeddwn i for states and ongoing/habitual actions. Use "wnes i" for completed events.
• Why: "Roeddwn i'n hapus" = I was happy (state). "Wnes i fynd" = I went (completed action).

Forgetting the "Ro-" prefix

• Wrong: Oeddwn i'n mynd. (as a statement)
• Right: Roeddwn i'n mynd. (statement) vs Oeddwn i'n mynd? (question)
• Why: Affirmative uses "Ro-" prefix; questions drop it.

Not changing to "Do-" for negatives

• Wrong: Roeddwn i ddim yn gwybod.
• Right: Doeddwn i ddim yn gwybod.
• Why: Negative forms change the "R" to "D": Roedd → Doedd.

Usage Notes

The imperfect tense is used extensively in narration and storytelling in both spoken and written Welsh. In the spoken language, shortened forms are common: "O'n i" for "Roeddwn i," "O'dd e" for "Roedd e." These contracted forms are perfectly acceptable in conversation.

When telling stories, the imperfect sets the scene ("Roedd hi'n braf...") while completed actions use the preterite ("Aeth e i'r siop...").

Practice Tips

1. Tell a story about yesterday: Describe what was happening at different times using the imperfect.

2. Practice all three forms: For each person, drill the affirmative, negative, and question: "Roeddwn i / Doeddwn i ddim / Oeddwn i...?"

3. Use "arfer" for habits: Practice "Roeddwn i'n arfer + verb-noun" for talking about what you used to do.

Related Concepts

• Bod - Present Tense
• Compound Tenses