Present Continuous Tense: A1 Exercises

Every answer with the reason behind it. Read the explanation for the ones you got right as well — that is where you find out whether you were right for the right reason.

Multiple choice questions — answers

1. I ___ a book at the moment. → am reading

The present continuous needs both be and the -ing form: am reading.

2. She ___ from home this week. → is working

Is plus working — the two halves of the tense must both be present.

3. They ___ dinner in the kitchen. → are cooking

They is plural, so the auxiliary is are.

4. ___ you listening to me? → Are

The question is made by moving be in front of the subject; no do is used.

5. Which spelling is correct after am, is or are? → I am taking a break.

A silent final -e is dropped before -ing: take becomes taking.

6. Which spelling is correct? → They are running late.

A final consonant after a single stressed vowel doubles before -ing: run becomes running.

7. He ___ working today — he's on holiday. → isn't

The negative puts not after be: he isn't working.

8. Which sentence is correct? → She is working in the garden.

Both halves are needed: the correct form of be and the -ing form of the verb.

9. We ___ for the bus at the moment. → are waiting

We is plural, so the auxiliary is are, and the main verb takes -ing.

10. ___ it raining outside? → Is

It is singular, so the question begins with is.

11. Which spelling of the -ing form is correct? → He is sitting in the garden.

Sit doubles its final t because the vowel before it is short and stressed.

12. Which time expression fits the present continuous? → at the moment

At the moment points to right now, which is exactly what the continuous describes.

13. The children ___ in the garden. → are playing

Children is plural, so the auxiliary is are.

14. I ___ feeling very well today. → am not

The negative of am is am not — there is no contraction for it in standard English.

15. ___ your parents staying with you this week? → Are

Parents is plural, so the question begins with are.

16. Which sentence is correct? → Are you working today?

Be inverts by itself, and the main verb keeps its -ing form.

17. She ___ a red coat today. → is wearing

Today points to the present moment, so the continuous is the natural choice.

18. Which -ing spelling is correct here? → She is writing a report.

Write drops its silent -e before the -ing ending.

19. "Are you coming with us?" — "Yes, I ___." → am

The short answer repeats the auxiliary be, and I takes am.

20. They ___ to the airport right now. → are driving

Right now calls for the continuous, and they takes are.

Fill-in-the-blank questions — answers

1. I ___ dinner at the moment — can I call you back? (cook) → am cooking

The present continuous needs both the correct form of be and the -ing form.

2. She ___ from home this week. (work) → is working

A third-person singular subject takes is, and the main verb adds -ing.

3. They ___ in the garden. (play) → are playing

They is plural, so the auxiliary is are.

4. ___ you listening to the radio? → Are

The question is made by moving be in front of the subject.

5. It ___ heavily outside. (rain) → is raining

It is singular, so the auxiliary is is.

6. We ___ for the last bus. (wait) → are waiting

We is plural, so the auxiliary is are.

7. He ___ working today — he has a day off. → isn't

The negative puts not after be, and he takes is.

8. The children ___ a film in the living room. (watch) → are watching

Children is plural, so the auxiliary is are.

9. ___ your sister studying for her exams? → Is

Your sister is a singular third-person subject, so the question begins with is.

10. I ___ feeling very well this morning. → am not

Am has no negative contraction in standard English, so it stays am not.

11. She ___ a beautiful blue dress today. (wear) → is wearing

Today points at the present moment, so the continuous is used.

12. We ___ to move house next month. (plan) → are planning

Plan doubles its final n before -ing, and we takes are.

13. ___ they coming to the party tonight? → Are

They is plural, so the question begins with are.

14. My brother ___ his room at the moment. (tidy) → is tidying

Tidy keeps its y and simply adds -ing.

15. I ___ an email to my manager. (write) → am writing

Write drops its silent -e before -ing.

16. They ___ any noise at all — the house is silent. → aren't making

The negative puts not after are, and make drops its -e before -ing.

17. ___ it getting colder, or is it just me? → Is

It is singular, so the question begins with is.

18. She ___ for a new job at the moment. (look) → is looking

A third-person singular subject takes is, and look adds -ing.

19. We ___ in a hotel while the flat is being painted. (stay) → are staying

We is plural, so the auxiliary is are.

20. The train ___ — hurry up! (leave) → is leaving

The train is singular, and leave drops its silent -e before -ing.

Sentence structure: word ordering — answers

1. Describe what you are doing right now. → I am reading a very good book.

Describe what you are doing right now.

2. Describe a woman's working arrangements this week. → She is working from home today.

Describe a woman's working arrangements this week.

3. Describe what some people are doing at this moment. → They are cooking dinner in the kitchen.

Describe what some people are doing at this moment.

4. Check whether somebody is paying attention. → Are you listening to me?

Check whether somebody is paying attention.

5. Describe the weather outside right now. → It is raining very heavily.

Describe the weather outside right now.

6. Say what your group is doing at the stop. → We are waiting for the bus.

Say what your group is doing at the stop.

7. Report that a man is on leave. → He isn't working this week.

Report that a man is on leave.

8. Describe what some children are doing now. → The children are playing in the park.

Describe what some children are doing now.

9. Ask about a female relative's current activity. → Is your sister studying for her exams?

Ask about a female relative's current activity.

10. Say that you are unwell at this moment. → I am not feeling very well.

Say that you are unwell at this moment.

11. Describe what a woman has on today. → She is wearing a red coat.

Describe what a woman has on today.

12. Describe an arrangement your household is making. → We are planning to move house.

Describe an arrangement your household is making.

13. Ask whether some guests will attend. → Are they coming to the party?

Ask whether some guests will attend.

14. Describe a skill a male relative is picking up. → My brother is learning to drive.

Describe a skill a male relative is picking up.

15. Say what you are working on at your desk. → I am writing an email to my manager.

Say what you are working on at your desk.

16. Warn somebody about an imminent departure. → The train is leaving in two minutes.

Warn somebody about an imminent departure.

17. Report that some people are being quiet. → They aren't making any noise.

Report that some people are being quiet.

18. Ask about a change in the weather. → Is it getting colder outside?

Ask about a change in the weather.

19. Describe a woman's current search. → She is looking for a new job.

Describe a woman's current search.

20. Describe your temporary accommodation. → We are staying in a small hotel.

Describe your temporary accommodation.