Tonight, Pylos, and old King Nestor. He was at Troy with Odysseus.
The Odyssey · A1+
Book Three: King Nestor of Pylos
Is sitting, was and were, older, some, always tells, going to, with and aren’t any: A1+ grammar for the oldest king in Greece.
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SOPHIA
PHILO
Does he know where Odysseus is?
The story
After Homer’s Odyssey
On the beach at Pylos, an old man is sitting by a fire. It is King Nestor. He is older than everybody. The Greeks were at Troy for ten years, and Nestor was there too.
“Would you like some meat?” says his son. Nestor always tells long stories. He doesn’t know where Odysseus is. There aren’t any ships from Troy in Pylos now.
“Tomorrow Telemachus is going to go to Sparta,” says Nestor, “with my son, Peisistratus.”
Is sitting
MARCOS
Look! An old man is sitting by the fire.
SOPHIA
am / is / are + -ing for now: he is sitting, they are eating.
Was, were; older
DEMETRIA
Nestor was at Troy. The Greeks were there for ten years. He is older than everybody.
SOPHIA
was for I / he / she / it, were for you / we / they. -er than to compare.
Some, any; always; going to; with
PHILO
Would you like some meat? There aren’t any ships. He always tells stories. He’s going to go with Nestor’s son.
SOPHIA
some in offers, any in negatives. always before the verb. going to for plans.
Sophia’s summary
| Form | Use | From the story |
|---|---|---|
| is / are + -ing | now | He is sitting. |
| was / were; -er than | past of be; comparing | They were at Troy. He is older. |
| some / any; always + verb | offers / negatives; frequency | He always tells stories. |
| be going to; with | plans; together | He is going to go with Peisistratus. |
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. An old man ___ on the sand.
2. Nestor ___ at Troy too.
3. The Greeks ___ at Troy for ten years.
4. Nestor is ___ than everybody.
5. Would you like ___ meat?
6. Nestor always ___ long stories.
B · Write
Write the missing word or words.
7. There aren’t ships from Troy.
8. Tomorrow he is to go to Sparta.
9. He goes Nestor’s son.
10. They eating on the beach. (be)
C · Right or wrong?
Is it correct?
11. “Nestor always is telling stories.”
12. “The Greeks were at Troy.”
13. “He is more old than me.”
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