Hey there! Have you ever struggled with those tricky present continuous tenses?
Trust me, I’ve been there. As an English learner myself, I used to mix up “is,” “am,” and “are” all the time. It was frustrating!
That’s why I created this practice set. I want to help you master these common grammar patterns that we use every day.
Whether you’re talking about what you’re doing right now or describing your daily routine, these exercises will help you get it right.
Let’s make English grammar less scary and more practical together. Ready to dive in?
Present Continuous Quiz
1. _____ they coming over for dinner?
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. be
Answer: A. are
2. Maxwell _____ not sleeping on our sofa.
A. is
B. was
C. were
D. are
Answer: A. is
3. My mother-in-law is _____ at our house this week.
A. stay
B. staying
C. stayed
D. stays
Answer: B. staying
4. I _____ my dinner right now.
A. eat
B. eats
C. am eating
D. ate
Answer: C. am eating
5. My sister _____ Spanish.
A. study
B. is studying
C. studied
D. studies
Answer: D. studies
6. I _____ at the hair salon until September.
A. am working
B. work
C. worked
D. will work
Answer: A. am working
7. We _____ at a fancy restaurant tonight. Jason decided this yesterday.
A. ate
B. eat
C. are eating
D. eating
Answer: C. are eating
8. Why ________ playing football tomorrow?
A. he
B. they
C. are they
D. is he
Answer: C. are they
9. They are _____ a new shopping mall downtown.
A. build
B. built
C. building
D. builds
Answer: C. building
10. Melissa is _____ down on her bed.
A. lay
B. laying
C. lain
D. lied
Answer: B. laying
11. He _____ (save) money because he wants to buy a car.
A. saves
B. save
C. is saving
D. saved
Answer: C. is saving
12. You _____ (not listen) to me.
A. do not listen
B. does not listen
C. are not listening
D. did not listen
Answer: C. are not listening
13. My parents _____ (look) for a new apartment.
A. looks
B. looked
C. are looking
D. look
Answer: C. are looking
14. The victim _____ (not cooperate) with the police.
A. does not cooperate
B. is not cooperating
C. not cooperates
D. did not cooperate
Answer: B. is not cooperating
15. We _____ (plan) a trip to Japan.
A. plans
B. plan
C. are planning
D. planned
Answer: C. are planning
16. I _____ (cook) fish for dinner.
A. cooks
B. cook
C. am cooking
D. cooked
Answer: C. am cooking
17. The water _____ (boil). You can put the pasta now.
A. boils
B. boiled
C. is boiling
D. boil
Answer: C. is boiling
18. He _____ (not train) because he has health problems.
A. does not train
B. is not training
C. not trains
D. did not train
Answer: B. is not training
19. I _____ (not work) at present. I’m unemployed.
A. do not work
B. does not work
C. am not working
D. did not work
Answer: C. am not working
20. I _____ (mark) orange juice.
A. am marking
B. mark
C. marks
D. marked
Answer: B. mark
21. Andy and Lucy _____ marking with us at the moment.
A. isn’t
B. are
C. am
D. be
Answer: B. are
22. We _____ mark to school every day.
A. go
B. goes
C. going
D. are go
Answer: A. go
23. What _____ Mark? I’m listening to my new MP3 player.
A. are you doing
B. you doing
C. do you do
D. is you do
Answer: A. are you doing
24. I _____ mark my friends in the café after school on Fridays.
A. meeting
B. am meeting
C. meet
D. meets
Answer: C. meet
25. Look! Sidney _____ marks his school uniform!
A. is wearing
B. wears
C. wearing
D. wear
Answer: A. is wearing
26. Do you want to play football? Not now. I _____ Mark dinner.
A. am making
B. make
C. makes
D. making
Answer: A. am making
27. What _____ for breakfast?
A. you have
B. do you have
C. are you having
D. you having
Answer: C. are you having
28. Have you got any ice cream? _____ Mark
A. no, I don’t
B. no, I haven’t
C. no, I doesn’t
D. no, I not have
Answer: B. No, I Haven’t
29. _____ Jamie Chandler?
A. do you know
B. are you knowing
C. you know
D. know you
Answer: A. do you know
30. I _____ for a present but I can’t find anything good.
A. look
B. looks
C. am looking
D. looking
Answer: C. am looking
31. Is football your favorite sport? Yes, but I _____ basketball too.
A. play
B. plays
C. am playing
D. playing
Answer: A. play
32. My brother and I _____ early at the weekend.
A. get up
B. gets up
C. getting up
D. are getting up
Answer: A. get up
33. Are your parents working at the moment? No, they _____.
A. don’t
B. aren’t
C. isn’t
D. doesn’t
Answer: B. aren’t
34. My baby sister _____ all the time.
A. cries
B. cry
C. is crying
D. crying
Answer: A. cries
35. Today, I ______ studying for my exam.
A. am
B. is
C. are
D. be
Answer: A. am
36. This semester is so hard. We ______ taking five classes!
A. am
B. is
C. are
D. be
Answer: C. are
37. Hurry! They _____ waiting for you.
A. is
B. am
C. are
D. be
Answer: C. are
38. I am seeing my doctor today. I _____________ well.
A. doesn’t feel
B. don’t feel
C. am not feeling
D. not feeling
Answer: C. am not feeling
39. She is angry at her brother. She _____________ with him today.
A. doesn’t speak
B. isn’t speaking
C. aren’t speaking
D. don’t speak
Answer: B. isn’t speaking
40. Today, ______ are writing an essay in class.
A. we
B. they
C. you
D. I
Answer: A. we
41. _______ is not coming to class this week.
A. he
B. I
C. she
D. they
Answer: A. he
42. They _____________ Dubai this month.
A. visit
B. visits
C. are visiting
D. visiting
Answer: C. are visiting
43. _____ you coming to class today?
A. is
B. am
C. are
D. be
Answer: C. are
44. ______ she out shopping now?
A. is
B. are
C. am
D. be
Answer: A. is
Conclusion
After working through these questions, you should feel more confident about using present tenses correctly.
Each example shows you real-life situations where you must choose between simple present and present continuous.
Remember, if something is happening right now, use “-ing” with the right helping verb (am/is/are).
For regular actions or facts, stick to the simple present.
I’ve included plenty of examples so you can practice anytime.
Did you get most of them right? If not, don’t worry! Keep practicing, and you’ll get better.
Grammar isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress!
