From tonight, Heracles travels. First, to Crete.
The Labours of Heracles · B2
Labour Seven: The Cretan Bull
Is believed to have, should have and must have, regret + -ing, the future perfect, have something built, in spite of, participle clauses, no matter how and would rather: B2 grammar for the white bull of Crete.
🐂 Play the story too: in the gamebook, you are Heracles.Play the gamebook →
SOPHIA
PHILO
The Minotaur.
The story
After the old stories of Heracles
The bull is believed to have come out of the sea. Poseidon sent it to King Minos, who promised to sacrifice it, but kept it instead. Minos should have given it back; Poseidon must have been very angry. Maddened by Poseidon, the bull began destroying the island.
Minos was having a strange maze built under his palace. The farmers feared that by the time Heracles arrived, the bull would have destroyed half the orchards.
In spite of its enormous size, the bull was astonishingly fast. Heracles wrestled it, and no matter how hard it pulled, he held on. Then he rode it across the sea to Greece.
Minos probably regretted keeping the bull. Demetria would rather fight a bull than a Hydra.
Is believed to have; must have; should have
DEMETRIA
The bull is believed to have come out of the sea. Poseidon must have been angry.
PHILO
And Minos should have given it back.
SOPHIA
is believed / said to have + past participle reports the past. must have = confident deduction. should have = criticism.
Regret -ing; would rather
MARCOS
Minos regretted keeping it. I’d rather fight a bull than a Hydra.
SOPHIA
regret + -ing looks back at something you did. would rather + bare verb.
The future perfect; causative have
DEMETRIA
By the time Heracles arrives, the bull will have destroyed half the island. And Minos is having a maze built.
SOPHIA
will have + past participle: finished before a future moment. have + object + past participle: someone else does it for you.
In spite of; participle clauses; no matter how
PHILO
In spite of its size, it was fast. Maddened by Poseidon, it kept running. No matter how hard it pulled, the rope held.
SOPHIA
in spite of + noun. A past participle clause can be passive in meaning. no matter how + adjective.
Sophia’s summary
| Form | Use | From the story |
|---|---|---|
| is believed to have + pp | reporting the past | It is believed to have come from the sea. |
| must have / should have + pp | deduction / criticism | He should have given it back. |
| will have + pp | future perfect | By then, it will have destroyed half the island. |
| have + object + pp | causative | He had a maze built. |
| in spite of; Maddened by…; no matter how | contrast; participle clause; concession | No matter how hard it pulled… |
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 bull is believed ___ out of the sea.
2. Minos ___ given the bull back.
3. By the time he arrives, the bull ___ half the orchards.
4. Minos was having a maze ___.
5. ___ by Poseidon, the bull ran wild.
6. I’d rather ___ a bull than a Hydra.
B · Write
Write the missing word.
7. Minos regretted the bull. (keep)
8. In spite its size, the bull was fast.
9. No matter hard it pulled, the rope held.
10. Poseidon must been very angry.
C · Right or wrong?
Is it correct?
11. “He had his armour repaired in Knossos.”
12. “In spite the wind, he sailed.”
13. “I’d rather to stay in Crete.”
Now play Labour Seven yourself, as Heracles!Play the gamebook →