Tonight, at last, Agamemnon admits he was wrong.
The Iliad · C1
Book Nine: The Embassy to Achilles
The formal subjunctive (it is essential that he return, recommend that they be), suggest + -ing, make amends, hate it when, the same as, in no mood for, whether… or, take into account, turn down and hold a grudge: C1 grammar for the most famous refusal in literature.
🗣️ Play the story too: in the gamebook, you are Odysseus, with every word you have.Play the gamebook →
SOPHIA
MARCOS
Good. Now Achilles comes back, and everything is fine.
The story
After Homer’s Iliad, Book Nine
With the Trojans camped on the plain, Nestor recommended that guards be posted along the ditch, and that Agamemnon make amends to Achilles. Agamemnon agreed, and offered gifts beyond counting. Nestor suggested sending the three men Achilles respected most: old Phoenix, Ajax and Odysseus.
Odysseus spoke first. It was essential, he said, that Achilles return before Hector burned the ships. He listed every gift, but tactfully left out Agamemnon’s last words: “Let him submit to me.” Achilles turned everything down. He hated it when a man said one thing and hid another in his heart, and he complained that the coward got the same honour as the brave man.
Phoenix, who had brought him up, told the story of Meleager, but Achilles was in no mood for stories: they would decide at dawn, he said, whether to sail home or stay. Then Ajax spoke bluntly: Achilles didn’t take his friends into account at all.
Achilles agreed with every word Ajax said, but he still held a grudge against Agamemnon. In the end he made one change: he would not sail home after all. He would fight when Hector reached his own ships.
I hate the man who hides one thing in his heart and says another, as I hate the gates of Hades.
The formal subjunctive
PHILO
It is essential that you return. Nestor recommended that guards be posted.
SOPHIA
After it is essential / vital / important that, and after recommend / insist / demand / propose that, formal English uses the base form, with no s, and be in the passive. (British English also uses should.)
Suggest; make amends; take into account; turn down
DEMETRIA
Nestor suggested sending three men. Agamemnon wanted to make amends. Achilles didn’t take his friends into account, and turned down every gift.
SOPHIA
suggest + -ing or suggest that, never suggest to do. make amends. take into account (not in account). turn down = refuse.
Hate it when; the same as; in no mood for; whether… or; hold a grudge
MARCOS
“I hate it when a man lies.” “The coward gets the same honour as the brave.” He was in no mood for stories. Whether to go or stay… He held a grudge.
SOPHIA
hate it when. the same as (not that). be in no mood for / to. whether… or. hold / bear a grudge against someone.
Sophia’s summary
| Form | Use | From the story |
|---|---|---|
| it is essential that + base form | the formal subjunctive | It is essential that he return. |
| recommend / insist that + base form / be | subjunctive after verbs | …that guards be posted. |
| suggest + -ing; make amends; turn down | proposals; correcting wrongs; refusing | Nestor suggested sending three men. |
| hate it when; the same as | feelings; comparison | The coward gets the same honour as the brave. |
| in no mood for; whether… or; take into account; hold a grudge | C1 phrases | He still held a grudge. |
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. It is essential that Achilles ___ before Hector burns the ships.
2. Nestor recommended that guards ___ posted.
3. Nestor suggested ___ three men to Achilles.
4. The coward gets the same honour ___ the brave man.
5. Achilles was in no mood ___ forgiveness.
6. He doesn’t take his friends ___ account.
B · Write
Write the correct form of the word in brackets, or the missing word.
7. Agamemnon wanted to make for his insult.
8. Achilles turned every gift.
9. “I hate it a man says one thing and means another.”
10. He still held a against Agamemnon.
C · Right or wrong?
Is it correct?
11. “Nestor suggested to send Phoenix first.”
12. “It is vital that he be told the truth.”
13. “We will decide whether to go home either stay.”
Now play Book Nine yourself!Play the gamebook →