Grammar/Structure: Adverbials and Tenses for JSS 3

Class: JSS 3
Term: First Term
Week: 5
Age: 14-15 years
Duration: 60 minutes
Subject: English Language Studies
Curriculum Theme: Grammar/Structure
Previous Lesson: Listening and Speaking: Intonation, Stress and Rhythm in Speeches on Human Rights and Values
Topic: Grammatical Accuracy
Subject Matter: Adverbs, conjunctions and prepositions Examples of adverbs, conjunctions and prepositions in a given passage e.g. (a) The ideal family sizes (b) Effects of adulterated drugs

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Define adverbials and tenses.
• Identify different types of adverbials in sentences.
• Identify and classify various tenses (e.g., simple present, present continuous, simple past, present perfect).
• Explain the functions of adverbials in sentences.

Psychomotor Domain

• Use adverbials correctly to modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs in sentences.
• Construct sentences using relevant tenses appropriately in context.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the importance of correct grammatical usage for clear communication.
• Demonstrate willingness to apply correct adverbials and tenses in their writing and speaking.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 2014 Senior Secondary Education Curriculum (SSEC)
• Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work
• A suitable English Language textbook for JSS 3
• FCT ERC/NAPPS Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Whiteboard or chalkboard
• Markers or chalk
• Prepared sentences and short passages containing adverbials and various tenses
• Flashcards with different adverbials and tense forms

Rationale for the Lesson

Understanding and correctly using adverbials and tenses is fundamental for grammatical accuracy in English. This lesson helps students express themselves clearly and precisely by modifying verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs, and by indicating the time of actions. Mastering these concepts improves both their written and spoken communication skills, which are essential for academic success and everyday interactions.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Students should have a basic understanding of parts of speech, especially verbs, adjectives, and adverbs, and a general idea of how sentences are structured.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Adverbials and Tenses

Adverbials

An adverbial is a word, phrase, or clause that functions as an adverb, modifying a verb, an adjective, another adverb, or an entire sentence. Adverbials provide additional information about how, when, where, or why an action occurs.

Types of Adverbials

Adverbials can be categorised based on the information they provide:

1. Adverbial of Time: Tells when an action happens.

• Examples: yesterday, now, soon, last week, in the morning, after the rain.
• Sentence: She arrived yesterday.

• Examples: here, there, everywhere, in the classroom, under the table, at the market.
• Sentence: The children are playing in the field.

• Examples: quickly, slowly, carefully, with great effort, by hand.
• Sentence: He drives carefully.

• Examples: always, often, sometimes, never, every day, once a week.
• Sentence: They often visit their grandparents.

• Examples: to succeed, for good grades, so that he could pass.
• Sentence: She studies hard to pass her exams.

• Examples: because he was ill, since it was raining.
• Sentence: He stayed home because he was ill.

Functions of Adverbials

Adverbials serve various functions in sentences:

1. They modify verbs: “She sings beautifully.”
2. They modify adjectives: “The weather is very hot.”
3. They modify other adverbs: “He runs extremely fast.”
4. They modify entire sentences: “Fortunately, no one was hurt.”

Tenses

Tense refers to the form of a verb that shows the time an action happened (past, present, or future) or the state of being. It indicates when an event takes place in relation to the moment of speaking or writing.

Types of Tenses and Their Uses

Here are some relevant tenses for JSS 3 students:

1. Simple Present Tense:
   • Use: For habitual actions, general truths, facts, and scheduled events.
   • Formation: Base form of the verb (add -s/-es for third person singular).
   • Examples:
     1. The sun rises in the east. (General truth)
     2. She goes to school every day. (Habitual action)
2. Present Continuous Tense:
   • Use: For actions happening at the moment of speaking, temporary actions, or planned future events.
   • Formation: Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing.
   • Examples:
     1. I am reading a book now. (Action happening now)
     2. They are visiting Abuja next week. (Planned future event)
3. Simple Past Tense:
   • Use: For actions completed at a definite time in the past.
   • Formation: Subject + past form of the verb (regular verbs add -ed, irregular verbs change form).
   • Examples:
     1. He played football yesterday. (Completed action in the past)
     2. She went to the market last Saturday. (Completed action in the past)
4. Present Perfect Tense:
   • Use: For actions that started in the past and continue to the present, or actions completed in the past but with a result that affects the present.
   • Formation: Subject + has/have + past participle of the verb.
   • Examples:
     1. I have lived in Lagos for five years. (Action started in past, continues to present)
     2. She has finished her homework. (Action completed, result affects present)

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Explanation, Question and Answer, Guided Practice, Individual Practice

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Activating prior knowledge

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the students and asks them to recall what they know about adverbs and verbs. The teacher then introduces the topic “Adverbials and Tenses” as essential for grammatical accuracy.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to questions about adverbs and verbs and listen attentively to the introduction.

Learning Point: Introduction to grammatical accuracy

Step 2: Explanation of Adverbials

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher defines adverbials and explains their role in modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. The teacher provides simple examples on the board.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, ask questions for clarification, and copy examples.

Learning Point: Meaning of adverbials

Step 3: Types and Functions of Adverbials

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Classification/Illustration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the different types of adverbials (time, place, manner, frequency, purpose, reason) with clear examples for each. The teacher also highlights their functions in sentences.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify the types and functions of adverbials in the given examples.

Learning Point: Adverbial types and functions

Step 4: Explanation of Tenses

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Definition

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher defines tenses and explains their importance in indicating the time of an action. The teacher introduces the concept of past, present, and future time frames.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and contribute their understanding of time in relation to actions.

Learning Point: Definition of tenses

Step 5: Types and Use of Tenses

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Elaboration/Examples

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the formation and correct use of simple present, present continuous, simple past, and present perfect tenses, providing illustrative sentences for each.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify the tense forms in example sentences and ask questions.

Learning Point: Tense forms and usage

Step 6: Guided Practice with Adverbials and Tenses

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Practice/Application

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher provides sentences and short passages. Students are guided to identify adverbials and tenses, and then to use them correctly in new sentences or to complete given sentences.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils actively participate by identifying and using adverbials and tenses in guided exercises.

Learning Point: Applying adverbials and tenses

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

1. What is an adverbial? Give two examples.
2. Identify the adverbial in the sentence: “She sings beautifully in the choir.”
3. What is a tense?
4. Form a sentence using the present continuous tense.
5. Change the sentence “They play football” to the simple past tense.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Adverbials and tenses understanding

Step 8: Note-Taking

Time: 10 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils/students to copy the essential Board Summary notes on adverbials and tenses into their notebooks.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils/students copy the notes carefully into their notebooks.

Learning Point: Recording lesson notes

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Consolidation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarises the key points of the lesson, reiterating the importance of using adverbials and tenses correctly for effective communication. The teacher encourages students to pay attention to these grammatical elements in their daily language use.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and ask any final questions.

Learning Point: Lesson summary and reinforcement

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework/Practice Exercise

Instruction: Complete the following tasks in your English notebook.

1. Identify all the adverbials in the following passage and state their types: “Yesterday, Femi quickly ran to the market because his mother needed some ingredients. He bought them carefully and returned home late in the evening.”
2. Write five sentences, each using a different type of adverbial.
3. Change the following sentences into the tense indicated in brackets:
   1. She eats rice. (Present Continuous)
   2. They visited their uncle. (Present Perfect)
   3. I am studying. (Simple Present)
4. Write a short paragraph (5-7 sentences) about your daily routine, ensuring you use at least three different tenses and three different adverbials.

Lesson Keywords

• Adverbial – a word, phrase, or clause that functions as an adverb.
• Tense – the form of a verb that shows the time of an action or state of being.
• Simple Present – tense for habitual actions or general truths.
• Present Continuous – tense for actions happening now or planned future events.
• Simple Past – tense for completed actions in the past.
• Present Perfect – tense for actions started in the past with present relevance.

Differentiation

For students who grasp the concepts quickly, provide more complex passages for analysis, asking them to identify subtle nuances in adverbial and tense usage. For students needing more support, provide simpler sentences and fill-in-the-blank exercises, focusing on one type of adverbial or tense at a time before combining them.

Suggested Lesson Videos

YouTube search for “adverbials for JSS3 English”
YouTube search for “tenses for JSS3 English”