There is already a beggar at the palace: Irus. He doesn’t like competition.
The Odyssey · C1
Book Eighteen: The Beggar Irus
Were he to, no fewer than, hold down, chew, for fear of, as happened, reckon, stands to reason, heed and as though to warn: C1 grammar for a boxing match between two beggars.
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SOPHIA
MARCOS
A fight!
The story
After Homer’s Odyssey
Irus threatened to throw the stranger out. The suitors laughed and offered a prize: a goat’s stomach, filled with fat. No fewer than a hundred suitors gathered round. “Were he to lose, he would leave the island,” they said.
Odysseus held back his strength, for fear of revealing who he was. He hit Irus just once, and knocked him down. As happened so often in that hall, the suitors roared with laughter.
One kind suitor, Amphinomus, offered the beggar bread. “I reckon you’ll need it,” he said. Odysseus spoke to him as though to warn him: “Leave this house, before the master returns.” It stood to reason. But Amphinomus did not heed the warning.
Were he to; no fewer than
DEMETRIA
Were he to lose, he would leave. No fewer than a hundred suitors.
SOPHIA
Were + subject + to + verb replaces if formally. no fewer than emphasises a large number.
Hold down / back; chew; for fear of
MARCOS
He held back his strength for fear of being recognised. He could barely chew his bread.
SOPHIA
hold back = restrain. for fear of + -ing = to avoid. chew = bite repeatedly.
As happened; reckon; stands to reason; heed; as though to
PHILO
As happened so often… I reckon… It stands to reason. He did not heed the warning. He spoke as though to warn him.
SOPHIA
as happened… = as was usual. reckon = think. it stands to reason = it’s logical. heed = pay attention to. as though to + verb.
Sophia’s summary
| Form | Use | From the story |
|---|---|---|
| Were he to…; no fewer than | formal conditional; emphasis on number | Were he to lose, … |
| hold back; for fear of + -ing | restrain; to avoid | for fear of being recognised |
| as happened; stands to reason | as usual; logical | It stands to reason. |
| reckon; heed; as though to | think; obey; as if intending | He did not heed the warning. |
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 to lose, he would leave the island.
2. No ___ than a hundred suitors watched.
3. He held ___ his strength.
4. For fear ___ revealing himself, he hit gently.
5. Amphinomus did not ___ the warning.
6. It stands to ___ that he should leave.
B · Write
Write the missing word or words.
7. I you’ll need this bread. (think, informal)
8. As so often, the suitors laughed.
9. He spoke as though warn him.
10. Irus could barely his food. (bite)
C · Right or wrong?
Is it correct?
11. “Were he to fall, they would laugh.”
12. “Were he lose, he would leave.”
13. “He didn’t heed to the warning.”
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