Another pig! Theseus had a pig!
The Labours of Heracles · A2+
Labour Four: The Erymanthian Boar
Have you ever, never, the past continuous and while, too hot and enough, the first conditional, had to, as big as, and himself: A2+ grammar in the snow, with a giant boar and some centaurs.
🐗 Play the story too: in the gamebook, you are Heracles.Play the gamebook →
MARCOS
SOPHIA
This one is bigger, and there is snow.
The story
After the old stories of Heracles
Heracles was walking through the forest of Pholoe when he met a centaur, Pholus, half man and half horse. Pholus cooked meat for him, but it was too hot to eat.
There was an old jar of wine in the cave. “If I open it, the other centaurs will come,” said Pholus. There wasn’t enough wine for everybody. In the old story, the centaurs came, and Heracles had to fight them.
On the mountain there was deep snow. Have you ever seen snow? Demetria has never seen it. While the boar was sleeping, Heracles came very close. It was as big as a cow.
Heracles chased it into the deep snow and caught it. When he came back, the king hid himself in his jar again.
Have you ever…? Never
MARCOS
Have you ever seen snow?
DEMETRIA
No. I’ve never seen it.
SOPHIA
The present perfect with ever and never for experiences in your whole life, with no exact time.
Past continuous; while
PHILO
Heracles was walking when he met a centaur. While the boar was sleeping, he came close.
SOPHIA
was / were + -ing for the longer action; past simple for the short action in the middle.
Too, enough
DEMETRIA
The meat was too hot to eat. There wasn’t enough wine.
SOPHIA
too + adjective: more than is good. enough + noun, or adjective + enough: enough wine, old enough.
If… will; had to
PHILO
If he opens the jar, they will come. So Heracles had to fight.
SOPHIA
First conditional: if + present, will + verb. had to is the past of must.
As big as; himself
MARCOS
The boar was as big as a cow! And the king hid himself in the jar!
SOPHIA
as… as for equal things. myself, himself, herself, themselves when the subject and object are the same person.
Sophia’s summary
| Form | Use | From the story |
|---|---|---|
| have you ever…? / never + pp | experiences | Have you ever seen snow? I’ve never seen it. |
| was / were + -ing; while | background action | While the boar was sleeping… |
| too + adj; enough | more than good; as much as needed | too hot; not enough wine |
| if + present, will; had to | first conditional; past obligation | If he opens it, they will come. |
| as… as; himself | equal; reflexive | as big as a cow; hid himself |
Practice
Answer all the questions, then press “Check my answers”. You can try again as many times as you like.
A · Choose
Choose the correct word.
1. ___ you ever seen a centaur?
2. Heracles ___ through the forest when he met Pholus.
3. The meat was ___ hot to eat.
4. If he opens the jar, the centaurs ___ come.
5. Heracles ___ fight them.
6. The king hid ___ in his jar.
B · Write
Write the missing word.
7. There wasn’t wine for everybody.
8. the boar was sleeping, he came close.
9. The boar was as big a cow.
10. Demetria has seen snow.
C · Right or wrong?
Is it correct?
11. “I have seen snow last year.”
12. “The boar was too big to carry easily.”
13. “He must to fight yesterday.”
Now play Labour Four yourself, as Heracles!Play the gamebook →