Dedh Pajar Ügens ha Whegh

De Sül, seythves warn ügens mis Meurth

Sunday, 27th March

Termyn Hav Bretednek, an kensa dedh, ha'n awel ew pecar'a hav. Lowen ew an flehes; anjei ell gwary gen aga gwaryellow et ow lowarth. Ma meur a daclow war an glesin - gwag po nebes ew an crow. Howl a wra ha nag eus meur a wens. Anjei ell desevos. Ma sodhva dhodhans - po kegin - po shoppys. Martesen thewa scol veythrin. Res ew dhodhans mos gen diwros ha kerrik baby. Ma'n maw bian en nev - ma diw vos vrâs ow qwary ganjo. Nag üjens ow merkya bargas bian (kelyonen bargesy).

British Summer Time, the first day, and the weather is like summer. The children are happy; they can play with their playthings in my garden. There's a lot of stuff on the lawn - the shed is almost empty. The sun shines and there is not much wind. They can imagine. They have an office - or kitchen - or shops. Perhaps it's a nursery school. They must go with bicycle and pushchair. The little boy is in heaven - two big girls are playing with him. They don't notice a little hoverfly.

Building up our Cornish language; Part 17d

Cressya emann agan tavas Kernôwek Radn 17d

So, we know the past is over and done with, but how do we choose which past tense to use?

Do you agree with the following choices? I include some adverbs of time.

Helen Troy o pur deg. Helen of Troy was very beautiful.

Demedhys veu hei dhe Menelaus. She was married to Menelaus.

Cleopatra o teg ewedh. Cleopatra was beautiful too.

Hei o Metêrnes Ejyp. She was Queen of Egypt.

Hei a veu demedhys dhe Roman. She was married to a Roman.

Shakespeare o scrifer marthys. Shakespeare was a wonderful writer.

What is the past tense of  this?

Ma dhodho trei flogh. He has 3 children.

E veu dhodho trei flogh.  He had three children.

Thera dhodho trei flogh bes Hamnet a verwas. 

He had three children but Hamnet died.

Kernow o pow gwels. Cornwall was a wild country.

Lys Kernow a veu derevys en Truru. County Hall was built in Truro.

Thera an Vetêrnes Pow Frenk ow triga en palys.

The Queen of France was living in a palace.

Hei o pur deg bes nag o hei wheg. 

She was very beautiful but she wasn't kind.

Nag o hei meurgerys. She was not much loved (popular).

Hei a veu dibednys. She was beheaded.

Ow dama vy o benyn hir ha crev. My mother was a tall strong woman.

Kens hy droglam, an vowes a veu bewek.

Before her accident, the girl was lively. 

Using veu (preterite) with a verbal adjective (past participle) is simple.

My a veu genys termyn hir alebma. I was born a long time ago.

Chei vy a veu derevys nanj ew termyn hir. 

My house was built a long time ago.

An pasty a veu pebys de. The pasty was baked yesterday.