I haven’t asked many questions here for a while, often because I can find the answers to them rather quickly here! However, this one I’m having a little trouble with - and it has only cropped up because somebody has asked ME, and I’m stumped!
The question I was asked was: Since “bues” is a form of “bod”, can you use “wedi” with it?
My question really is: Are “bues” and “bod” interchangeable or does “bues” have a slightly different meaning to “bod” in its own form that only works when used in conjunction with certain words?
I have only ever used bues i to mean “I have been”, as in:
Bues i i Sbaen ond fues i ddim i Awstralia - I have been to Spain but I have not been to Australia.
But I “understand” its the preterite form (a past tense) of bod, but that is no real help, because I do not know what that actually is! I just stick to the usage above and it serves me fine that way. For grammar, @owainlurch would be your man!
i have always been told it’s have been as Stu says with a sense of not likely to reoccur soon.
Beus i cerdded o gwmpas cymry dwy blyddyn yn ol. (not sure that’s correct welsh).
This was a tense they covered very early on in Wlpan courses 20 years ago and, which I asked Aran about in May…
The question I was asked was: Since “bues” is a form of “bod”, can you use “wedi” with it?
Question on “bod”
Fues i can be translated in English as I have been to, I was or I went to… I don’t think I’ve heard wedi used with it. It just translates as: I have been to, I was or I went to
B.B.C -
For example: Fues i i Aberystwyth I went to Aberystwyth
Fues i’n canu I’ve been singing
Fues i’n lwcus I was lucky
So, would I be right in understanding that if I were to use “bues i…”, this would eliminate the need to use “wedi” since in this short form it means “wedi bod”?
EDIT: Also, would I be right in guessing that bues is pronounced as “BEE-ess”?
But what does bues i actually mean… (dons thinking cap)
Bues i is in the past, but it’s a done and dusted past.
O’n i yn Lerpwl pan ddigwyddodd … (I was in Liverpool when … happened)
But
Bues i yn Lerpwl unwath / fel myfyriwr / 20 mlynedd yn ôl (I was in Liverpool once / as a sturdent / 20 years ago)
I’m not sure if that has helped at all, but what may hepl more is that you can always get away with “o’n i”, even when it’s not strictly the best form of the past, whereas using “bues i” out of place will usually sound a bit odd, and possibly give the wrong impression. That said, though, you’re unlikely to be misunderstood because of the context, so don;t stress about trying it out!