Hector wants to fight the best of the Greeks. Achilles won’t come out.
The Iliad · C1
Book Seven: Hector and Ajax
Passive reporting (is said to have, there is said to be), be reluctant to, be no match for, get the better of, neither of + singular, call off, on condition that, even if and set about: C1 grammar for a duel that nobody wins.
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SOPHIA
MARCOS
So who’s the second best? The biggest one, I hope.
The story
After Homer’s Iliad, Book Seven
Hector challenged the bravest of the Greeks to fight him alone, but they were all reluctant to accept, until old Nestor shamed them. Nestor is said to have killed a giant when he was young, and there is said to be no man alive with more stories. Nine volunteers put their lots in a helmet, and the lot of Ajax jumped out.
Ajax came out like Ares, with his tower shield of seven ox-hides. Hector’s spear stopped at the seventh hide; Ajax’s spear grazed Hector’s neck. Then Hector threw a rock, but he was no match for Ajax, who threw a far bigger one and knocked him flat. Neither of them could get the better of the other, and at nightfall the heralds called off the duel. Neither of them was the winner, and they exchanged gifts: a sword for a belt.
In Troy, Antenor said the Trojans should give back Helen. Paris offered the treasure on condition that he kept Helen. The Greeks refused: even if Paris gave them Helen herself, said Diomedes, they would not accept. Both sides burned their dead, and the next morning the Greeks set about building a wall and a ditch round their ships.
They fought in bitter hatred, and parted as friends.
Passive reporting
PHILO
Nestor is said to have killed a giant. There is said to be no one as strong as Ajax. It is said that the wall will be remembered for ever.
SOPHIA
subject + is said / believed / thought + to (have)…; There is said to be…; It is said that… Not He is said that…
Reluctant to; no match for; get the better of; neither of
MARCOS
They were all reluctant to accept! Hector was no match for that rock. Nobody could get the better of the other. Neither of them was the winner.
SOPHIA
be reluctant to + verb. be no match for. get the better of. neither of + plural noun + singular verb in careful English, and no extra not.
Call off; on condition that; even if; set about
DEMETRIA
The heralds called off the duel. Paris would give the treasure on condition that he kept Helen. Even if he gave us Helen, we wouldn’t accept! They set about building a wall.
SOPHIA
call off = cancel. on condition that = only if. even if for imagined situations; even though for real ones. set about + -ing = start doing.
Sophia’s summary
| Form | Use | From the story |
|---|---|---|
| is said to have + pp; there is said to be | passive reporting | Nestor is said to have killed a giant. |
| be reluctant to; set about + -ing | unwillingness; starting | They set about building a wall. |
| be no match for; get the better of | strength; defeating | Hector was no match for Ajax’s rock. |
| neither of + singular verb; call off | accuracy; cancelling | Neither of them was the winner. |
| on condition that; even if | conditions; imagined concession | Even if he gave us Helen, we wouldn’t accept. |
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. Nestor is said ___ a giant when he was young.
2. There ___ to be no Greek as strong as Ajax.
3. The Greeks were reluctant ___ the challenge.
4. Hector was no match ___ Ajax’s rock.
5. Neither of them ___ the winner.
6. ___ Paris gave us Helen, we wouldn’t accept.
B · Write
Write the correct form of the word in brackets, or the missing word.
7. The heralds called the duel because it was dark.
8. Neither of them could get the better the other.
9. He offered the treasure on condition he kept Helen.
10. The Greeks set about (build) a wall.
C · Right or wrong?
Is it correct?
11. “Ajax is said that he is the strongest of the Greeks.”
12. “Even though it was getting dark, they went on fighting for a while.”
13. “Neither of them didn’t win.”
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