Telemachus sails home from Sparta. The suitors are waiting to ambush him.
The Odyssey · B2+
Book Fifteen: Telemachus Returns
Needn’t have, was to, got to, no point, turned out, regardless, supposing, only then, ended up and would rather you: B2+ grammar for a voyage home, and an ambush that fails.
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SOPHIA
MARCOS
Do they catch him?
The story
After Homer’s Odyssey
Athena told Telemachus to go home at once. He needn’t have worried about Menelaus; the king gave him fine gifts. A prophet, Theoclymenus, asked to come with him, and Telemachus agreed.
The suitors’ ship was to have ambushed him in the straits, but Telemachus sailed a different way. “There’s no point waiting,” said the suitors, regardless of the danger. Supposing he escapes, what then?
Telemachus got to Ithaca at dawn. Only then did he tell his men to go to the city, while he went to the swineherd’s hut. The ambush turned out to be useless. The suitors ended up waiting for nothing. “I’d rather you didn’t tell my mother yet,” he told Eumaeus.
Needn’t have; was to have
DEMETRIA
He needn’t have worried. The ship was to have ambushed him.
SOPHIA
needn’t have + pp = he did, but it wasn’t necessary. was to have + pp = a plan that didn’t happen.
Got to; turned out; ended up
MARCOS
He got to Ithaca. The ambush turned out to be useless. They ended up waiting for nothing.
SOPHIA
get to = arrive. turn out to be = prove to be. end up + -ing = finally find yourself.
No point; regardless; supposing; only then; rather you
PHILO
There’s no point waiting. Regardless of the danger. Supposing he escapes? Only then did he tell them. I’d rather you didn’t tell her.
SOPHIA
no point + -ing. regardless of. supposing = what if. only then + inversion. would rather + person + past.
Sophia’s summary
| Form | Use | From the story |
|---|---|---|
| needn’t have + pp; was to have + pp | unnecessary; cancelled plan | He needn’t have worried. |
| get to; turn out; end up | arrive; prove; finally | They ended up waiting. |
| no point + -ing; regardless of | pointless; without considering | There’s no point waiting. |
| supposing; only then did; I’d rather you + past | hypothesis; inversion; preference | I’d rather you didn’t tell her. |
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. He ___ worried: Menelaus was generous.
2. The ship was ___ ambushed him.
3. He ___ Ithaca at dawn.
4. There’s no point ___.
5. The ambush ___ to be useless.
6. I’d rather you ___ tell her yet.
B · Write
Write the missing word or words.
7. Only then he tell his men. (inversion)
8. They ended waiting for nothing.
9. of the danger, they waited. (without caring)
10. he escapes, what then? (what if)
C · Right or wrong?
Is it correct?
11. “There’s no point to wait.”
12. “He needn’t have worried.”
13. “Only then he told them.”
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