Odysseus walks into the city of the Phaeacians. Athena hides him in a mist.
The Odyssey · A2+
Book Seven: The Palace of Alcinous
Was walking, has just arrived, nobody saw, as big as, haven’t seen, must, too tired, will, whose and ever: A2+ grammar for a palace of bronze and gold, and a stranger who has just arrived.
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SOPHIA
DEMETRIA
So nobody can see him?
The story
After Homer’s Odyssey
Odysseus was walking into the city when he met a girl with a water jar. It was Athena. She hid him in a mist, so nobody saw him.
The palace of King Alcinous had walls of bronze and doors of gold. The garden was as big as a field. “I haven’t seen anything like it,” thought Odysseus. “I must find the queen.”
“A stranger has just arrived,” said the old counsellor. “Whose clothes is he wearing?” asked Queen Arete. She knew them: she had made them herself. Odysseus was too tired to tell his whole story. “Tomorrow we will give you a ship,” said the king. “Have you ever seen a ship like ours?”
Was walking; has just arrived
MARCOS
He was walking when he met a girl. A stranger has just arrived!
SOPHIA
Past continuous for the background. Present perfect with just for something very recent.
Nobody saw; haven’t seen; ever
DEMETRIA
Nobody saw him. I haven’t seen anything like it. Have you ever seen a ship like ours?
SOPHIA
nobody + positive verb. Present perfect for experience: ever, never, haven’t…
As big as; too tired; must; will; whose
PHILO
as big as a field; too tired to talk; I must find the queen; we will give you a ship; whose clothes?
SOPHIA
as… as for equal. too + adjective + to. must for necessity. will for promises. whose asks who owns something.
Sophia’s summary
| Form | Use | From the story |
|---|---|---|
| was + -ing + past simple | interrupted action | He was walking when he met her. |
| has just + pp; ever / haven’t | recent; experience | A stranger has just arrived. |
| as… as; too… to | equal; excess | too tired to talk |
| must; will; whose | necessity; promise; owner | Whose clothes are these? |
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 ___ into the city when he met a girl.
2. A stranger has ___ arrived.
3. ___ saw him: he was in a mist.
4. The garden was ___ a field.
5. I ___ anything like it.
6. He was ___ tired to talk.
B · Write
Write the missing word or words.
7. I find the queen. (necessary)
8. Tomorrow we give you a ship. (promise)
9. clothes is he wearing?
10. Have you seen a ship like ours?
C · Right or wrong?
Is it correct?
11. “Nobody didn’t see him.”
12. “He was too tired to speak.”
13. “Who’s clothes are these?”
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