"Is Russia still communist?"

Translation: Ydy Rwsia yn dal i fod yn gomiwnyddol?

[tombo.wb95]

Shouldn't 'yw' be accepted as well as 'ydy'?

[rmcode]

I have never seen 'Yw' at the beginning of a sentence.

[MrGWallCymraeg]

No, as yw on it's own never starts a sentence in standard written Cymraeg, though some do say it. Yw and ydy both come from "ydyw".

[tombo.wb95]

Oh okay, so even if you speak a dialect that prefers using 'yw' in the middle of a sentence, you'd still begin a question with 'ydy'? Or is it not really an issue?

[MrGWallCymraeg]

Yes, exactly. I suppose if someone wants to write "yw" at the start to form a question, they can, but it's incorrect and won't be taught in this course. It it, however, quite common in South Wales to hear utterances such as "Yw e'n dod neu be?" "Is he coming or what?"