Tonight, birds. With feathers of bronze, which they shoot like arrows.
The Labours of Heracles · B1+
Labour Six: The Stymphalian Birds
The past perfect, must be and can’t be, non-defining which, however, would for past habits, the modal passive, wish, reported questions and the third conditional: B1+ grammar for birds with feathers of bronze.
🪶 Play the story too: in the gamebook, you are Heracles.Play the gamebook →
SOPHIA
DEMETRIA
We saw them on the Argo!
The story
After the old stories of Heracles
When Heracles arrived at the lake of Stymphalos, the birds had eaten every fish in it. Every morning the fishermen would go out on the lake, before the birds came. Now nobody dared.
The marsh, which was too deep to walk through, was full of birds. Their feathers must be made of bronze: look how they shine! That can’t be an ordinary bird: it’s as big as a goat.
The birds couldn’t be stopped by arrows alone, because they were hiding in the reeds. However, Heracles wasn’t afraid. Athena appeared and asked him what he needed. She gave him two bronze rattles.
Heracles shook the rattles, and the birds flew up out of the reeds, and he shot them or drove them away. If Athena hadn’t helped him, Heracles would have failed. Marcos wishes he had a pair of those rattles.
The past perfect
DEMETRIA
When Heracles arrived, the birds had eaten every fish.
SOPHIA
had + past participle for something that happened before another past moment.
Must be, can’t be
MARCOS
Those feathers must be bronze! That can’t be an ordinary bird!
SOPHIA
must for a strong guess that something is true, can’t for a strong guess that it’s not. Not mustn’t.
Which; however; would
PHILO
The marsh, which was too deep, was full of birds. However, Heracles wasn’t afraid. The fishermen would go out every morning.
SOPHIA
Non-defining clauses use which / who between commas. However + comma links two sentences. would for past habits.
Modal passive; reported questions
DEMETRIA
The birds couldn’t be stopped by arrows. Athena asked him what he needed.
SOPHIA
Modal passive: modal + be + past participle. Reported questions: statement order, tense back.
Wish; the third conditional
MARCOS
I wish I had those rattles.
PHILO
And if Athena hadn’t helped, he would have failed.
SOPHIA
wish + past for now. Third conditional: if + past perfect, would have + past participle.
Sophia’s summary
| Form | Use | From the story |
|---|---|---|
| had + past participle | earlier past | The birds had eaten every fish. |
| must be / can’t be | strong guesses now | They must be bronze. |
| , which…,; However,; would | extra information; contrast; past habit | The marsh, which was deep, … |
| could(n’t) be + pp; asked what he needed | modal passive; reported question | They couldn’t be stopped. |
| wish + past; if + had + pp, would have + pp | wishes; third conditional | If she hadn’t helped, he would have failed. |
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. When he arrived, the birds ___ all the fish.
2. That ___ be an ordinary bird. It’s huge!
3. The lake, ___ was very deep, was dark.
4. Every morning the fishermen ___ go out on the lake.
5. Athena asked him what he ___.
6. If Athena hadn’t helped, he ___.
B · Write
Write the missing word.
7. The feathers be bronze. Look how they shine! (strong guess)
8. The birds were dangerous. , Heracles wasn’t afraid.
9. The birds couldn’t stopped by arrows alone.
10. I wish I a pair of rattles. (have)
C · Right or wrong?
Is it correct?
11. “That mustn’t be a normal bird.”
12. “The marsh, which was full of birds, was silent at last.”
13. “If he had shot them, he would win.”
Now play Labour Six yourself, as Heracles!Play the gamebook →