Odysseus finishes his story, and the Phaeacians take him home at last. Twenty years.
The Odyssey · B2
Book Thirteen: Home to Ithaca
Was turned, can’t have, might have, question tags, as if, even though, otherwise, not to be, get used to and about to: B2 grammar for a homecoming in disguise.
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SOPHIA
DEMETRIA
Does anyone recognise him?
The story
After Homer’s Odyssey
The Phaeacians carried Odysseus home while he slept, and left him on the beach. As they sailed back, their ship was turned to stone by Poseidon. When Odysseus woke up, he didn’t recognise his own island. “They can’t have brought me to Ithaca! They might have left me anywhere!”
A young shepherd appeared. It was Athena. “You don’t recognise Ithaca, do you?” She laughed, as if it were a joke. Even though he was home, he had to be careful; otherwise the suitors would kill him.
Athena turned him into an old beggar, so as not to be recognised. “You’ll have to get used to being a beggar,” she said. He was about to meet the swineherd, Eumaeus.
Was turned; can’t have; might have
DEMETRIA
The ship was turned to stone. They can’t have brought me here! They might have left me anywhere.
SOPHIA
Past passive. can’t have + pp = impossible in the past; might have + pp = possible.
Question tags; as if
MARCOS
You don’t recognise it, do you? She laughed as if it were a joke.
SOPHIA
Negative sentence → positive tag, and the other way round. as if + past for something unreal.
Even though; otherwise; get used to; about to
PHILO
Even though he was home, he had to hide; otherwise they’d kill him. He had to get used to being a beggar. He was about to meet Eumaeus.
SOPHIA
even though = strong although. otherwise = if not. get used to + -ing. be about to = very soon.
Sophia’s summary
| Form | Use | From the story |
|---|---|---|
| was turned; can’t / might have + pp | passive; past deduction | They can’t have brought me here. |
| question tags; as if + past | checking; unreal | You don’t know, do you? |
| even though; otherwise | contrast; if not | Otherwise they would kill him. |
| get used to + -ing; be about to | become familiar; very soon | He was about to meet Eumaeus. |
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 ship ___ to stone.
2. They ___ brought me to Ithaca! This isn’t it!
3. You don’t recognise it, ___?
4. She laughed, as if it ___ a joke.
5. He had to hide; ___, they would kill him.
6. You’ll have to get used to ___ a beggar.
B · Write
Write the missing word or words.
7. They have left me anywhere! (possible)
8. Even he was home, he was in danger.
9. He was about meet the swineherd.
10. He was disguised so as not to recognised.
C · Right or wrong?
Is it correct?
11. “You know this island, don’t you?”
12. “He is used to be a beggar.”
13. “They can’t have left me here!”
Now play Book Thirteen yourself!Play the gamebook →