The cliff road to Megara is so narrow that only one man can walk on it. And a man called Sciron guards it.
Theseus: The Road to Athens · B2
Labour Four: The Cliffs of Sciron
Supposed to, must have, the second and third conditionals, reported questions, non-defining relative clauses, despite, make someone do, and wish: B2 grammar on a narrow cliff road above a very large turtle.
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PHILO
DEMETRIA
What does he do?
The story
After the old stories of Theseus
Sciron, who said he was a son of Poseidon, sat on a rock on the narrowest part of the cliff road. He made every traveller wash his feet. A host is supposed to wash his guests’ feet, not the other way round.
While the traveller was kneeling, Sciron kicked him over the cliff, into the sea, where a giant turtle was waiting. A fisherman had watched the turtle for years, but nobody had believed him.
Nobody had ever come back from that road. Those travellers must have been killed. If they had known the truth, they would never have taken it.
Despite the terrible wind, Theseus climbed up to Sciron. When Sciron told him to wash his feet, Theseus knelt down, took the basin… and threw Sciron over the cliff instead.
Supposed to; must have
DEMETRIA
A host is supposed to wash his guests’ feet!
SOPHIA
be supposed to = what a rule or custom expects. And deductions about the past: they must have been killed (I’m sure), they can’t have escaped (I’m sure not).
Second and third conditionals
MARCOS
If I were Theseus, I would take a boat!
SOPHIA
Second conditional, imaginary now: if + past, would + verb. Third, imaginary past: If they had known, they wouldn’t have taken that road.
Reported questions; non-defining clauses
PHILO
The soldier asked Theseus where he was going. And Sciron, who guards the road, says he is a son of Poseidon.
SOPHIA
Reported questions use statement order: asked where he was going. Non-defining clauses, between commas, use who or which, never that.
Despite; make someone do
DEMETRIA
Despite the wind, he climbed. Sciron made them wash his feet.
SOPHIA
despite / in spite of + noun or -ing. make / let + person + base verb, no to.
Wish; the present perfect passive
MARCOS
I bet the travellers wish they had listened to the innkeeper.
SOPHIA
wish + past perfect for regrets about the past. And the turtle has been watched for years: present perfect passive.
Sophia’s summary
| Form | Use | From the story |
|---|---|---|
| be supposed to | expected by custom | A host is supposed to wash his guests’ feet. |
| must have / can’t have + pp | deductions about the past | They must have been killed. |
| if + past, would + verb | second conditional | If I were Theseus, I would take a boat. |
| if + past perfect, would have + pp | third conditional | If they had known, they wouldn’t have gone. |
| despite + noun / -ing; make + base verb | contrast; causing | Despite the wind… He made them wash. |
| wish + past perfect | regret | They wish they had listened. |
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. Guests ___ to bring a small gift.
2. The road is empty. Everybody ___ afraid of Sciron.
3. If I ___ you, I would avoid the cliffs.
4. If Theseus had fallen, the turtle ___ him.
5. ___ the danger, Theseus kept climbing.
6. Sciron made them ___ his feet.
B · Write
Write the missing words.
7. The soldier asked Theseus where he . (was going / go)
8. Sciron, sat on a rock, watched the road.
9. The fisherman wishes they believed him. (past regret)
10. They can’t seen the turtle from the road. (deduction, past)
C · Right or wrong?
Is it correct?
11. “If they would have known, they wouldn’t have gone.”
12. “Despite of the wind, he climbed.”
13. “The turtle has been watched for years.”
Now play Labour Four yourself, on the cliff road above the turtle.Play the gamebook →