Sophia said tonight was the dirtiest job in Greece. I’m holding my nose.
The Labours of Heracles · B1
Labour Five: The Augean Stables
Have been living, do or make, the second conditional, where and whose, both, such… that, unless, say or tell, and the present passive: B1 grammar for thirty years of dirt and one day to clean it.
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MARCOS
SOPHIA
Wise. King Augeas has three thousand cattle.
The story
After the old stories of Heracles
King Augeas of Elis had three thousand cattle, and they had been living in the same stables for thirty years. Nobody had ever cleaned them. If Augeas cleaned his stables, they wouldn’t smell so terrible.
Eurystheus told Heracles to do the dirtiest job in Greece: clean the stables in one day. Heracles made a deal with Augeas: if he cleaned them before dark, he would get a tenth of the cattle. Augeas wouldn’t pay unless Heracles finished before dark. Phyleus, whose father was the king, was the witness.
Elis is the kingdom where two rivers run through the valley. Heracles broke holes in the walls and dug channels, and both rivers rushed through the stables. It was such a flood that thirty years of dung was gone by evening.
But Augeas told Heracles that he wasn’t going to pay. On a good farm, stables are cleaned every day.
The present perfect continuous
MARCOS
The cattle have been living there for thirty years!
SOPHIA
have / has been + -ing for something that started in the past and is still going on, often with for and since.
Do or make
DEMETRIA
Heracles had to do the dirtiest job. He made a deal.
SOPHIA
do a job, homework, the cleaning. make a deal, a plan, a mistake, a noise.
The second conditional; unless
PHILO
If Augeas cleaned his stables, they wouldn’t smell. Augeas won’t pay unless Heracles finishes.
SOPHIA
Second conditional: if + past, would + verb for something imaginary. unless = if… not.
Where, whose; both
DEMETRIA
Elis is the kingdom where Augeas lived. Phyleus, whose father was the king, told the truth. Both rivers ran through the stables.
SOPHIA
where for places, whose for possession. both = the two together.
Such… that; say or tell; the passive
MARCOS
It was such a smell that the birds flew away! Augeas told Heracles he wouldn’t pay.
SOPHIA
such (a) + noun + that. tell + person; say without one. And the present passive: stables are cleaned every day.
Sophia’s summary
| Form | Use | From the story |
|---|---|---|
| have / has been + -ing | started in the past, still continuing | They have been living there for thirty years. |
| do / make | collocations | do a job; make a deal |
| if + past, would + verb; unless | imaginary; if… not | If he cleaned them, they wouldn’t smell. |
| where / whose; both | relatives; the two | the kingdom where…; Phyleus, whose father… |
| such a… that; tell / say; are + pp | result; reporting; passive | such a smell that…; stables are cleaned |
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 form.
1. The cattle ___ there for thirty years.
2. Heracles had to ___ the dirtiest job in Greece.
3. If Augeas cleaned them, they ___ so bad.
4. Elis is the place ___ the rivers run.
5. Augeas won’t pay ___ Heracles finishes before dark.
6. Augeas ___ Heracles that he wouldn’t pay.
B · Write
Write the missing word.
7. Phyleus, father was the king, told the truth.
8. It was a terrible smell that Marcos held his nose.
9. rivers ran through the stables. (the two)
10. On a good farm, the stables cleaned every day.
C · Right or wrong?
Is it correct?
11. “Heracles made a deal with Augeas.”
12. “If I would be Augeas, I would pay.”
13. “Augeas said Heracles that he wouldn’t pay.”
Now play Labour Five yourself, as Heracles!Play the gamebook →