>>> Also, though similar in form, the 'yr' before the verb can hardly have >>>developed from the article. It would be better to call it a pre-verbal >>>particle. >> >>I wish to disagree here. I'm almost positive that I've seen the >>following in formal writing, and it's hard to imagine how it could >>be anything other than the article (besides, I was told by a native >>Welshman that it was the article): >> [Examples deleted] >> >>What do other people think? > >I think Mark is missing the point. There is no doubt that the particle >is similar in form to the definite article, including its variation >according to phonetic form. You're right: I missed the point. It looks like a duck, walks like a duck, but according to Stephen J. Williams' comprehensive _A Welsh Grammar_, it is a preverbal particle, as you stated. I'll correct the lesson (yet again), but this time I'll just send the corrected version to Briony for archiving instead of sending to the entire list. --Mark