Future Tense: Simple Future – JSS1 English Lesson Note (Second Term)

The simple future tense talks about actions or events that have not happened yet. It is formed with the modal verb ‘shall’ or ‘will’ followed by the base form of the verb, as in “I shall travel soon” and “You will see me again”. English also has other ways of talking about the future, which are not the simple future tense.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• explain what the simple future tense is;
• form sentences in the simple future tense with ‘shall’ and ‘will’;
• say when ‘shall’ is used and when ‘will’ is used;
• form sentences with ‘be going to’;
• use the present progressive with a future time word to talk about plans.

What is the simple future tense?

The simple form of the verb does not change when we speak about the future. The simple future tense is made by putting ‘shall’ or ‘will’ before the base form of the verb.

Pattern: subject + shall/will + base form of the verb.

• I shall travel soon.
• You will see me again.
• Our teacher will mark the scripts tomorrow.

The verb after ‘shall’ or ‘will’ is always in its base form. We say “Ada will cook”, not “Ada will cooks” or “Ada will cooked”.

Negative and question forms

• Negative: I shall not go. She will not come. (Short forms: shan’t, won’t.)
• Question: Will you come tomorrow? Shall we begin?

What is the difference between ‘shall’ and ‘will’?

Many speakers use ‘will’ with ‘I’ and ‘we’ as well, for example “I will call you tonight”. At JSS1 level, teach students to use ‘shall’ with ‘I’ and ‘we’ in offers and suggestions, and to use ‘will’ with the other subjects.

What other ways of showing the future does English have?

These two forms are not the simple future tense, because they do not use ‘shall’ or ‘will’. They are other ways of talking about the future, and students should learn them beside the simple future.

1. Using ‘be going to’ and the infinitive

Pattern: subject + am/is/are + going to + base form of the verb. We use it for plans and for things we can see will happen.

• Emeka is going to succeed.
• It is going to rain today.
• I am going to visit my aunt in Ibadan.

2. Using the present progressive

Pattern: subject + am/is/are + verb with -ing + a future time word such as tomorrow, tonight or next year. We use it for plans that have already been arranged.

• Adamu is leaving tomorrow.
• We are travelling next year.
• Chika is writing an examination on Monday.

Worked examples

1. Present: Tunde plays football. Simple future with ‘will’: Tunde will play football tomorrow.
2. Present: The children go to the market. With ‘be going to’: The children are going to go to the market.
3. With the present progressive: My father is travelling to Kano on Friday.
4. Negative simple future: They will not arrive before noon.

Evaluation

1. Name the way of showing the future in this sentence: “Emeka is going to succeed.”
2. Name the way of showing the future in this sentence: “Adamu is leaving tomorrow.”
3. Rewrite in the simple future tense with ‘will’: “Tola buys a new bag tomorrow.”
4. Choose the correct answer: “She ____ football tomorrow.” (A) will play (B) played (C) has played (D) was playing
5. Making an offer, complete with ‘shall’ or ‘will’: “____ I carry your bag?”

Answer key for evaluation

1. ‘be going to’ with the infinitive.
2. The present progressive.
3. Tola will buy a new bag tomorrow.
4. A (will play).
5. Shall.

Assignment

1. Rewrite with ‘be going to’: “It will rain this evening.”
2. Rewrite with the present progressive: “My uncle will arrive on Friday.”
3. Correct the error: “Ngozi will travelled to Kano next month.”
4. Making a suggestion, complete with ‘shall’ or ‘will’: “____ we go to the market now?”
5. Write in the negative: “I shall attend the meeting.”

Answer key for assignment

1. It is going to rain this evening.
2. My uncle is arriving on Friday.
3. Ngozi will travel to Kano next month.
4. Shall.
5. I shall not attend the meeting.