The night before the contest. Odysseus can’t sleep. The gods send signs.
The Odyssey · C1+
Book Twenty: Signs and Omens
Bore, rein in, as if to, scarcely, thereby, try as he might, none other than, with the exception of, all they do and uncontrollably: C1+ grammar for the night before the contest, full of thunder and laughter.
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SOPHIA
PHILO
Good ones?
The story
After Homer’s Odyssey
Odysseus bore the insults of the maids in silence. He had to rein in his anger. Try as he might, he could not sleep. Zeus sent thunder from a clear sky, as if to answer his prayer.
In the morning, a grinding-woman prayed that it would be the suitors’ last feast. It was none other than the prayer Odysseus had hoped for. With the exception of a few, the suitors noticed nothing.
All they did was eat and mock. Scarcely had they sat down when Athena made them laugh uncontrollably, with blood on their meat. The prophet Theoclymenus saw it and warned them, thereby making them laugh even more.
Bore; rein in; try as he might
DEMETRIA
He bore the insults. He reined in his anger. Try as he might, he couldn’t sleep.
SOPHIA
bear → bore = tolerate. rein in = control. Try as he might = however hard he tried.
As if to; none other than; with the exception of
PHILO
Thunder, as if to answer him. None other than the prayer he hoped for. With the exception of a few…
SOPHIA
as if to + verb. none other than = emphatic identity. with the exception of = except.
Scarcely; thereby; all they did; uncontrollably
MARCOS
Scarcely had they sat down when… All they did was eat. They laughed uncontrollably, thereby…
SOPHIA
Scarcely had… when + inversion. All (that) they did was + verb. thereby + -ing = as a result. uncontrollably = without control.
Sophia’s summary
| Form | Use | From the story |
|---|---|---|
| bore; rein in; try as he might | tolerate; control; however hard | Try as he might, he couldn’t sleep. |
| as if to; none other than | apparent purpose; emphasis | none other than Zeus |
| with the exception of; all they did was | except; cleft | All they did was eat. |
| Scarcely had… when; thereby; uncontrollably | inversion; result; adverb | thereby making them laugh |
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 ___ the insults in silence.
2. He had to rein ___ his anger.
3. ___ as he might, he could not sleep.
4. Thunder came, as if ___ his prayer.
5. Scarcely ___ sat down when they laughed.
6. All they did ___ eat.
B · Write
Write the missing word or words.
7. It was none other Zeus himself.
8. With the of a few, they noticed nothing.
9. He warned them, making them laugh more. (as a result)
10. They laughed . (without control)
C · Right or wrong?
Is it correct?
11. “Try as he might, he couldn’t sleep.”
12. “Scarcely they had sat down when…”
13. “All they did was to eat.”
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