Present Simple and Present Continuous Quiz

1. Tom __________ at the moment. Can I take a message?

Correct Wrong

Use the present continuous with action verbs such as 'work' with the time expression 'at the moment'.

2. I often __________ tennis on Saturdays.

Correct Wrong

Use the present simple with adverbs of frequency such as 'usually', 'often', 'sometimes', etc.

3. We __________ on the Smith account this week.

Correct Wrong

The present continuous can be used to discuss something happening around the moment of speaking.

4. We rarely go out for dinner, but this week we __________ out on Saturday.

are going
go

Correct Wrong

Use the present continuous to discuss future plans.

5. He __________ every word she says.

Correct Wrong

Never use the continuous form with a stative verb (a verb that expresses a state, feeling, opinion, etc.)

6. Angela gets up at 7 o'clock and __________ breakfast every day.

Correct Wrong

Use the present simple to express something that happens every day.

7. Peter usually __________ a lot of questions.

Correct Wrong

Use the present simple to speak about typical behavior.

8. Jason doesn't know the answer to this question. He __________ the other answers.

Correct Wrong

Don't use the continuous form with a stative verb (a verb that expresses a state, feeling, opinion, etc.)

9. We __________ a meeting in Chicago this weekend.

Correct Wrong

Use the present continuous to speak about scheduled events, especially when using business English.

10. She __________ to purchase a new computer.

Correct Wrong

A desire is not an action and takes a stative verb (a verb that expresses a state, feeling, opinion, etc.) The present continuous is not used with stative verbs.

11. I __________ that this quiz is easy.

Correct Wrong

'Hope' is a stative verb (a verb that expresses a state, feeling, opinion, etc.) and is not used with the continuous form.

12. Janet __________ breakfast at the moment.

Correct Wrong

'Have' is not used with continuous when it shows possession. In this case, 'have breakfast' is an action and can be used with the present continuous.

13. My friends __________ in a factory twenty miles from their apartment.

Correct Wrong

In this case, both answers could be right, but would have a slightly different meaning. "My friends are working..." would imply that the friends are working right now, at this time and could be an answer to the question, "Where are your friends?"

"My friends work..." implies a habitual action, in other words, that the friends have jobs at the factory but not that they are necessarily working there at the moment.

14. She is always __________ about how much she hates her job.

Correct Wrong

The word always takes the present continuous.

15. The children __________ at the moment by the nanny.

Correct Wrong

This is the passive form of the continuous, but the plural 'are' is required.