Ikusasa Nokuhlela
Chapter Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Form and use the simple future tense, to describe actions that have not yet happened.
- Express intention and plans using controlled formulaic expressions such as wanting to and planning to.
- Talk about appointments, meetings, and arrangements, in familiar work and study settings.
- Ask and answer simple questions about when something will happen, using vocabulary already active from Chapters 1 through 5.
- Sequence two future events using bese, the same connector already active from Chapter 5, now pointed forward in time instead of backward.
- Continue using past narration from Chapter 5 to contrast what already happened with what is still to come.
- Read and listen to a short passage that moves between present, past, and future meaning.
- Write a short, organized plan for an upcoming day or week, combining future forms with familiar noun phrases.
- Continue applying the concord audit habit, now checking subject concords across every future form used in a single plan.
Communication Scenario
On Wednesday, Nomvula stops by Zanele's office to plan the coming week together. Zanele has already written her reports, so now she turns her attention forward, telling Nomvula what she still needs to do, and when she plans to do it. Nomvula, who has an appointment of her own coming up, asks careful questions to work out exactly when each task will happen, and the two friends sequence several plans together, the way colleagues naturally do when organizing a busy week.
- Before you begin, think, in English, about the difference between saying "I will write the report" and saying "I want to write the report" or "I am planning to write the report." Notice that each sentence expresses a slightly different relationship to the future.
- List, in English, one thing you plan to do later today, and one thing you plan to do next week. You will describe both in isiZulu by the end of this chapter.
Where This Chapter Fits
Chapter 5 opened the recent past, remote past, and resultative past, and taught you to sequence two events with bese. This chapter keeps every one of those systems active, and adds a new direction in time, the future. You will use the same work and study vocabulary, the same noun phrases, and the same bese connector, now pointed toward what has not yet happened. By the end of this chapter, you will be able to move between what you did, what you have finished, and what you still plan to do, inside a single connected conversation.
From Chapters 1 through 5
Concord audit, familiar noun classes, infinitives with uku-, simple questions with nini and kuphi, noun phrases with adjectives and possessives, and recent, remote, and resultative past.
New in This Chapter
Simple future tense, formulaic expressions of intention and planning, and bese used to sequence two future events rather than two past events.
Looking Forward
Chapter 7 turns to object concords, so that you can refer to specific people and things you have already mentioned, inside sentences that may describe the past, present, or future.
Vocabulary: Plans and Appointments
This chapter's noun vocabulary remains within classes already active from Volume I and Chapters 1 through 5. The new material here is a small set of future time words and two formulaic expressions of intention, which allow you to place events ahead in time and describe your plans clearly.
Amagama ekusasa — Future time words
| isiZulu | English | Use |
|---|---|---|
| kusasa | tomorrow | near future |
| ngeviki elizayo | next week | near-to-medium future |
| ngonyaka ozayo | next year | distant future |
| maduze | soon | near future, unspecified time |
| ngemva kwalokhu | after this | sequencing a future event |
Izixhumanisi zenhloso — Formulaic intention expressions
| isiZulu | English | Use |
|---|---|---|
| ngifisa uku- | I want to ... | formulaic, followed by an infinitive already active from Chapter 4 |
| ngihlela uku- | I am planning to ... | formulaic, followed by an infinitive already active from Chapter 4 |
Both expressions above are formulaic in this chapter. Learners may use them freely with any infinitive already introduced, without full analysis of their internal grammar. The connector bese, already active since Chapter 5, is reused here to sequence future events.
Pronunciation and Click Review
The word kusasa begins with the same syllable shape as several familiar words from earlier chapters. Keep the vowels short and even, and place the natural lengthening on the second-to-last syllable, so kusasa is not confused with the chapter title word ikusasa, meaning the future.
The future marker sits between the subject concord and the verb root, and is easy to blend with surrounding sounds if you speak too quickly. Say ngizokwenza slowly, breaking it into its parts, ngi-zo-kwenza, then say it again at a natural, connected speed. Practise the same pattern with ngizofunda and ngizobhala, listening for the same clear -zo- in each word.
Grammar: Future, Intention, and Planning
6.1 Simple future
Purpose: describe something that has not yet happened, but is expected, planned, or certain to happen.
The simple future is formed with the subject concord, followed by the marker -zo-, followed by the verb root, followed by a final vowel. For the roots used so far in this course, the future of -funda is ngizofunda, meaning I will study, or I will read.
- UNomvula uzofika ehhovisi ngeviki elizayo. Nomvula will arrive at the office next week. simple future, single event
- Sizosebenza kanzima ngonyaka ozayo. We will work hard next year. simple future, plural subject concord
Note on scope: This chapter presents the simple future as a controlled system for single planned events, paired with the future time words above. Combination with object concords, and negative future forms, remain outside this chapter's scope.
6.2 Expressing intention with ngifisa uku- and ngihlela uku-
Purpose: describe a wish or a plan, rather than a certain future event.
To express what you want to do, use ngifisa uku- followed by an infinitive. To express what you are planning to do, use ngihlela uku- followed by an infinitive. Both expressions are treated as fixed formulas in this chapter, and both are followed by the same infinitive pattern with uku- that you learned in Chapter 4.
- Ngifisa ukuphumula maduze. I want to rest soon.
- UZanele uhlela ukuvakashela isikole sakhe esidala. Zanele is planning to visit her old school.
6.3 Sequencing two future events with bese
Purpose: link two future events into a short, connected plan, the same way bese already links two past events.
To sequence future plans, state the first event using a simple future form, then add bese, followed by the subject concord and verb root for the second event. This is the same connector you activated in Chapter 5, now reused to point forward rather than backward.
- Ngizovula ihhovisi kusasa, bese ngibhala imibiko. I will open the office tomorrow, and then I will write the reports.
- Sizofika ngeviki elizayo, bese sihlangana nomqashi wethu. We will arrive next week, and then we will meet our employer.
A single conversation may move between past, present, and future, the way real planning conversations naturally do. A speaker might report what already happened, using the past forms from Chapter 5, then state what is planned, using the future forms from this chapter. This chapter's dialogue, reading, and listening passages model that natural movement across time, without requiring you to produce every combination yourself.
Model Dialogue
Isimo: NgoLwesithathu, uNomvula uvakashela ihhovisi likaZanele, ukuze bahlele iviki elizayo ndawonye.
Setting: On Wednesday, Nomvula visits Zanele's office, so they can plan the coming week together.
This dialogue moves between resultative past, present, and simple future, and uses bese once to sequence two future events. Every noun class and noun phrase pattern used was already active by the end of Chapter 5.
Imibuzo yokuqonda — Comprehension questions:
- UZanele uzokwenzani kusasa? (What will Zanele do tomorrow?)
- UZanele uhlela ukwenzani ngonyaka ozayo? (What is Zanele planning to do next year?)
- UNomvula uzofika nini ehhovisi likaZanele? (When will Nomvula arrive at Zanele's office?)
Listening
Ask your instructor, a study partner, or a qualified isiZulu speaker to read the following short passages aloud at a natural, measured pace. Listen twice for each item. On the first listen, decide whether each sentence describes something that already happened, something happening now, or something that has not yet happened. On the second listen, write down the specific time word or marker that told you so.
If no speaker is available, this is a Listening Script for Independent Use. Read each passage aloud yourself at a measured pace, pausing naturally between sentences. All audio models must be verified by a qualified isiZulu speaker before being treated as a pronunciation model.
1. Iviki likaNomvula — Nomvula's week:
"Izolo, uNomvula wabhala incwadi entsha ehhovisi. Kusasa, uzofika esikoleni sakhe, bese efunda kabanzi. Ngeviki elizayo, uhlela ukuvakashela abangani bakhe."
2. Uhlelo lukaZanele — Zanele's plan:
"Manje, uZanele uyaphumula. Ngonyaka ozayo, ufisa ukuthola omunye umsebenzi, futhi uhlela ukusebenzela ihhovisi elikhulu."
Umsebenzi wokulalela — Listening task:
Complete the table with the details you hear.
| Isiqephu (Passage) | Isikhathi (Past, present, or future) | Ibhuzu lwesikhathi noma isiphetho (Time word or marker) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ______ | ______ |
| 2 | ______ | ______ |
Reading
Read the following short passage, which moves between resultative past, present, and simple future, and combines them with infinitives, intention formulas, and noun phrases from earlier chapters. Read it aloud twice before answering the comprehension questions.
Uhlelo lukaZanele nikaNomvula — Zanele and Nomvula's plan
UZanele usewubhalile wonke umsebenzi wakhe wesonto, futhi manje uyaphumula. Ngifisa ukuphumula maduze, ushilo kuNomvula, kodwa kusasa ngizosebenza kanzima futhi. Ngizovula ihhovisi ekuseni, bese ngibhala eminye imibiko emikhulu. Ngihlela ukuthola omunye umsebenzi ngonyaka ozayo, ngakho ngisebenza kanzima manje. UNomvula naye uzofika ehhovisi ngeviki elizayo, bese behlangana futhi, ukuze bahlele okunye ukusebenza kanzima abakuhlelayo.
This passage opens with a resultative past showing a present result, moves to a present-tense statement of intention, then closes with two sequenced future plans linked by bese. This is the natural movement across time described in the Language Focus box above.
Imibuzo yokuqonda — Comprehension questions:
- Manje, uZanele usewenzile ini? (What has Zanele already finished doing, now?)
- Uzokwenzani kusasa? (What will she do tomorrow?)
- Uhlela ukwenzani ngonyaka ozayo? (What is she planning to do next year?)
- UNomvula uzofika nini? (When will Nomvula arrive?)
Writing Workshop
In this chapter, you will write a short, organized plan describing what you will do soon, and what you are planning to do further ahead, combining these with the noun phrase and infinitive patterns from earlier chapters.
Umsebenzi wokubhala — Writing task: Write six to eight sentences describing your plans, or invented plans, including at least one simple future sentence, one sentence using ngifisa uku- or ngihlela uku-, and one use of bese to sequence two future events.
- List your plans. In English, jot down one thing you will do soon, and one thing you are planning to do later.
- Open with a present result. Use a resultative past sentence from Chapter 5, to show what you have already finished.
- State an intention. Use ngifisa uku- or ngihlela uku-, followed by an infinitive, to describe a wish or a plan.
- Sequence two future events. Use two simple future sentences, linked with bese, to show what will happen in order.
- Add one noun phrase. Include at least one noun phrase with an adjective and a possessive, from Chapter 3.
- Audit your draft. Check every subject concord against its noun class, confirm each future form matches its intended meaning, and confirm bese links two related events, before writing your final version.
Isikhungo sokuhlola — Editing checklist:
- At least one sentence uses the simple future correctly.
- At least one sentence uses ngifisa uku- or ngihlela uku- correctly, with a matching infinitive.
- Bese is used at least once to sequence two future events.
- At least one earlier past form from Chapter 5 is reused correctly.
- Every subject concord matches its noun's class.
- No unscheduled vocabulary or grammar appears beyond Volume I and Chapters 1 through 6.
Speaking Practice
Ukuzilolonga — Controlled practice: sorting time meanings
Your partner says a short sentence in the past, present, or future. Decide, out loud, which time it describes, then explain, in English, which word or marker told you so.
Umsebenzi wokuxhumana — Communicative task: planning the week
Working with a partner, plan a short week together. Each of you should state one thing you will do soon, and one thing you are planning to do later, using bese at least once to sequence events. Your partner asks at least two follow-up questions using nini or kuphi.
Useful checking expressions: Uzokwenzani kusasa? (What will you do tomorrow?) | Uhlelani ngonyaka ozayo? (What are you planning for next year?) | Bese, kwenzekani? (And then, what happens?)
Ukuzilolonga wedwa — Solo alternative
Record yourself describing the plans you wrote about in the Writing Workshop, as a spoken account. Listen back, and check that your simple future and intention forms all remain accurate.
Culture and Communication
In many isiZulu speaking communities, speakers often soften confident statements about the future, particularly when discussing health, safety, or important personal matters, preferring expressions of hope or intention over flat certainty. Learners should notice how often speakers reach for a wish or a plan, rather than a bare future statement, in everyday conversation.
When two people agree to meet or work together, restating the plan clearly near the end of a conversation, as Zanele and Nomvula do in the model dialogue, is a common and courteous way to confirm that both sides share the same understanding. This pattern is worth practising as you complete the speaking tasks in this chapter.
Some speakers favor ngihlela uku-, while others favor alternative planning expressions not yet introduced in this course, depending on region, generation, or setting. This textbook models a clear, standard pattern suitable for learners. Keep listening for small variations as your listening skills develop in later chapters and volumes.
Common Mistakes
Error: Blending the future marker -zo- with the recent past marker -a- from Chapter 5, for example saying ngazokwenza when a plain future meaning is intended.
Correction: Use the subject concord directly followed by -zo- for the simple future: ngizokwenza, not ngazokwenza, when describing something that has not yet happened.
Error: Using ngifisa or ngihlela alone, without the infinitive that carries the actual planned action, for example saying Ngifisa umsebenzi omusha when a full infinitive phrase is intended.
Correction: Follow ngifisa uku- or ngihlela uku- with a complete infinitive: Ngifisa ukuthola umsebenzi omusha, not Ngifisa umsebenzi omusha, when describing a wish to do something.
Error: Placing two future sentences side by side with no connector at all, for example saying Ngizovula ihhovisi. Ngizobhala imibiko., as two separate, unconnected statements.
Correction: Link related future events with bese, to show they will happen in sequence: Ngizovula ihhovisi, bese ngibhala imibiko, not two disconnected sentences.
Chapter Review
Ingxenye A — Amagama (Vocabulary)
1. Bhala incazelo yesiNgisi yalawa magama: kusasa, ngeviki elizayo, ngonyaka ozayo, maduze, ngifisa uku-, ngihlela uku-. (Write the English meaning of each of these words.)
Ingxenye B — Isigabisigabi (Grammar)
1. Guqula lezi zimpande zibe isikhathi esizayo: (Turn these roots into the simple future.)
- -vula (mina) → ______
- -fika (yena, uNomvula) → ______
2. Guqula lezi zimpande zibe imisho enenhloso, usebenzisa ngifisa uku- noma ngihlela uku-: (Turn these roots into intention sentences, using ngifisa uku- or ngihlela uku-.)
-phumula (mina): ______ -thola omunye umsebenzi (mina): ______
Ingxenye C — Ukufunda (Reading)
1. Funda leli phuzu, uphendule imibuzo: (Read this line, and answer the questions.)
"Ngizovula ihhovisi ekuseni, bese ngibhala eminye imibiko emikhulu."
- Uzovulani ekuseni?
- Bese, wenzani?
Ingxenye D — Ukubhala (Writing)
1. Bhala izinhlamvu ezimbalwa ezichaza into ozoyenza kusasa, kanye nento ohlela ukuyenza ngonyaka ozayo, usebenzisa u-bese kanye nesikhathi esizayo. (Write several sentences describing something you will do tomorrow, and something you are planning to do next year, using bese and the simple future.)
Ingxenye E — Ukukhuluma (Speaking)
1. Xoxa nomngane wakho ngento ozoyenza maduze, kanye nento ohlela ukuyenza ngeviki elizayo. (Talk with your partner about something you will do soon, and something you are planning to do next week.)
Ukubuyekezwa okuhlanganisiwe — Cumulative review from Chapters 1 through 5
Choose the correct word or form in brackets to complete this short exchange, drawing on patterns consolidated in Chapters 1 through 5 and reactivated in this chapter.
[Sawubona / Kuqala], Zanele. Se[wuyibhalile / uyabhala] yonke imibiko yakho. Manje, ngi[fisa / fisile] ukuphumula, kodwa [kudala / kusasa] ngizosebenza kanzima futhi. Ngizovula ihhovisi, [bese / futhi] ngibhala eminye imibiko. Ngihlela ukuthola [omunye / lowo] umsebenzi ngonyaka [ozayo / odlule].
Chapter 6 Performance Task
Umsebenzi wesithupha weVolumu II
Ukuhlela iviki lami — Planning my week
Complete a full speaking and writing task in three stages, drawing on the simple future, intention expressions, and sequencing with bese developed in this chapter:
- Ukubika (Reporting). Tell your partner one thing you have already finished, using the resultative past from Chapter 5.
- Ukuhlela (Planning). Tell your partner two things you will do soon, sequencing them with bese.
- Ukubhala (Written component). Write six to eight sentences that bring together a present result, an intention, and two sequenced future plans from your speaking task above. Submit with standard isiZulu spelling, correct capitalization and punctuation, and no analytical hyphens in ordinary writing.
Answer Key
Dialogue — Comprehension
- Kusasa, uZanele uzovula ihhovisi, bese ebhala eminye imibiko.
- Ngonyaka ozayo, uhlela ukuthola omunye umsebenzi.
- UNomvula uzofika ehhovisi likaZanele ngeviki elizayo.
Listening
- Passage 1 — Past, future, and future: Nomvula wrote a new letter yesterday, will arrive at her school tomorrow and study further, and is planning to visit her friends next week.
- Passage 2 — Present and future: Zanele is resting now, wants to get another job next year, and is planning to work for a big office.
Reading — Comprehension
- Usewubhalile wonke umsebenzi wakhe wesonto.
- Kusasa, uzovula ihhovisi, bese ebhala eminye imibiko emikhulu.
- Ngonyaka ozayo, uhlela ukuthola omunye umsebenzi.
- UNomvula uzofika ngeviki elizayo.
Chapter Review — Ingxenye A
kusasa = tomorrow; ngeviki elizayo = next week; ngonyaka ozayo = next year; maduze = soon; ngifisa uku- = I want to; ngihlela uku- = I am planning to.
Chapter Review — Ingxenye B
- (a) ngizovula (b) uzofika
- Ngifisa ukuphumula / Ngihlela ukuthola omunye umsebenzi
Chapter Review — Ingxenye C
- (a) Uzovula ihhovisi ekuseni. (b) Bese, ubhala eminye imibiko.
Cumulative Review — Correct answers
Sawubona / wuyibhalile / fisa / kusasa / bese / omunye / ozayo
Looking Ahead
Okungakwenzeka manje — What you can do now
You can now form the simple future, express intention with ngifisa uku- and ngihlela uku-, and sequence two future events with bese. Together with the past narration from Chapter 5, and the infinitives, questions, and noun phrases from earlier chapters, you can now hold a connected conversation that moves confidently between what happened, what is true now, and what is still to come.