The Simple Present Tense Structure English Grammar JSS 1 Second Term Lesson Notes Week 2

Subject: English Grammar
Class: JSS 1
Term: Second Term
Week: 2
Age (in years): 12-14
Topic: Tenses – The Present Tense
Sub-topic: The Simple Present Tense
Duration: 40 minutes

Behavioural Objectives:

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

1. Define the present tense.
2. Identify sentences in the simple present tense.
3. Convert sentences from other tenses into the simple present tense.
4. Use the simple present tense correctly in their own sentences.

Keywords:

Tense, Present, Simple Present, Always, Occupation, Verb, Action.

Set Induction:

Begin by asking the students questions like:

• “What do you do every day?”
• “What time do you wake up in the morning?”
  These questions will help introduce the idea of routine actions, which are expressed using the present tense.

Entry Behaviour:

Students should have a basic understanding of verbs and their functions in sentences. The teacher will briefly review how verbs are used to show actions and the difference between past, present, and future tenses.

Learning Resources and Materials:

1. Whiteboard and markers
2. Flashcards with sentences
3. Worksheets with tense conversion exercises
4. Projector (optional for visual aids)

Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge:

The teacher will relate the lesson to actions students perform regularly, like going to school, eating breakfast, or studying. These actions are often expressed using the present tense.

Embedded Core Skills:

• Critical Thinking: Identifying tenses and understanding their usage.
• Communication: Formulating sentences using the present tense.
• Collaboration: Working in pairs to complete activities and exercises.

Learning Materials:

• Lagos State Scheme of Work for JSS 1 (English Grammar)
• Teacher’s Guide on Tenses (if available)

Reference Books:

• Lagos State Scheme of Work for Junior Secondary Schools (English Language)
• Oxford English Grammar Course by Michael Swan

Instructional Materials:

• Flashcards with example sentences
• Tense conversion charts
• Worksheets for students

Content:

1. Definition of Tense:
   • Tense is a grammatical category that shows the time of an action. In this lesson, we focus on the present tense, which is used for actions that happen regularly, currently, or are facts.
2. Simple Present Tense:
   • The simple present tense is used to talk about habits, routines, facts, and general truths.
   • Examples:
     1. I live in Lagos.
     2. She goes to school every day.
     3. The sun rises in the east.
     4. He eats rice every morning.
     5. We work from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Evaluation Questions:

1. The simple present tense is used to describe actions that happen ________.
   a) sometimes
   b) always
   c) regularly
   d) occasionally
2. “He plays football every day.” The verb “plays” is in the ________ tense.
   a) past
   b) future
   c) present
   d) progressive
3. “I live in Lagos.” This sentence is in the ________ tense.
   a) simple past
   b) simple future
   c) simple present
   d) continuous present
4. The simple present tense is used to describe ________ actions.
   a) ongoing
   b) future
   c) regular
   d) one-time
5. “She drinks water every morning.” The verb “drinks” is in the ________ tense.
   a) simple present
   b) future
   c) continuous
   d) past
6. “They always eat dinner at 7 PM.” This sentence uses the simple present tense because it shows an ________.
   a) event that happened yesterday
   b) future plan
   c) habit
   d) ongoing action
7. The simple present tense is formed using the base form of the verb with an “s” for ________.
   a) we
   b) you
   c) I
   d) he/she/it
8. “The teacher teaches math.” This is an example of a sentence in the ________ tense.
   a) past
   b) present
   c) future
   d) continuous
9. “She often wakes up early.” The verb “wakes” is in the ________ tense.
   a) past
   b) future
   c) present
   d) perfect
10. “We travel daily to school.” This sentence is in the ________ tense.
    a) future
    b) past
    c) present
    d) progressive
11. “I ________ to the park every Sunday.”
    a) go
    b) went
    c) going
    d) will go
12. “He ________ his homework before going out.”
    a) do
    b) does
    c) did
    d) doing
13. “The moon ________ around the Earth.”
    a) circle
    b) circling
    c) circles
    d) circled
14. “She always ________ breakfast at 7 AM.”
    a) eat
    b) eats
    c) ate
    d) eating
15. “I ________ enjoy reading books.”
    a) never
    b) am
    c) do
    d) have

Class Activity Discussion (FAQs):

1. What is the simple present tense?
   • The simple present tense is used to describe actions that are habitual, regular, or general facts.
2. How do we form the simple present tense?
   • We use the base form of the verb, and for he, she, or it, we add “s” or “es” to the verb.
3. Can the simple present tense be used for actions happening right now?
   • No, we usually use it for habitual actions, facts, or routines, not actions happening at the moment.
4. What is an example of a fact in the simple present tense?
   • “The sun rises in the east.”
5. How do you use “do” in the simple present tense?
   • “Do” is used for negative and question forms, e.g., “I do not like coffee.”
6. Can we use the simple present tense for future actions?
   • No, we use the simple present for actions that are regular or factual, not for future actions.
7. What is the rule for adding “s” to verbs in the present tense?
   • Add “s” for most verbs, but “es” for verbs ending in s, x, z, ch, or sh (e.g., “washes,” “fixes”).
8. Can we use the simple present tense with adverbs of frequency?
   • Yes, adverbs like “always,” “never,” “often,” and “usually” are often used with the simple present tense.
9. What is the structure of a sentence in the simple present tense?
   • Subject + base verb (or base verb + s/es) + object.
10. How can you form questions in the simple present tense?
    • Use “do” or “does” for questions, e.g., “Do you like soccer?” “Does he play basketball?”
11. Why do we say “She sings” and not “She sing”?
    • The third-person singular (he, she, it) takes “s” in the simple present tense.
12. What are common time expressions used with the simple present tense?
    • Always, usually, often, sometimes, never.
13. Can we use the simple present tense with continuous actions?
    • No, for continuous actions, we use the present continuous tense instead.
14. What is the difference between the present tense and the past tense?
    • The present tense talks about actions happening regularly or as facts, while the past tense describes actions that happened in the past.
15. Can the simple present tense express a general truth?
    • Yes, for example, “Water boils at 100°C.”

Teacher’s Activities:

1. Greet the students and review the previous lesson.
2. Introduce the concept of the present tense and its usage.
3. Write sentences on the board and explain how they represent the present tense.
4. Guide students through tense conversion exercises.
5. Provide feedback and corrections to ensure understanding.

Learners’ Activities:

1. Listen to the teacher’s explanation.
2. Participate in class discussions and ask questions.
3. Complete the tense conversion exercises on worksheets.
4. Answer evaluation questions.

Assessment (Evaluation):

Provide 10 short-answer questions where students write sentences in the simple present tense.

Conclusion:

The teacher will check students’ work, provide feedback, and encourage them to use the present tense in everyday conversations. The lesson will end with a summary of key points.