Test your English grammar knowledge with these multiple choice quizzes on tenses (Present Simple and Present Continuous) for grades 8, 9 and 10. Additionally, these grammar quiz questions and answers are catered carefully making it compatible for any competitive exams.
Take these online grammar assessment tests for free to review present simple and present continuous tense.
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Tense Grammar Quiz Questions
The following grammar quiz questions and answers are designed to help grammar learners of all levels. This quiz set will test your knowledge on present simple vs present progressive tense.
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Present Simple and Present Progressive Quiz
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Present Simple Tense and Present Continuous Tense Quiz for grade 10
The following grammar assessment test has been designed for class 10 English grammar students to test their understanding of present simple tense and present continuous tense. With grammar questions and answers, you can measure your understanding of English grammar. So, let’s begin the test.
They normally _____ a coffee break at ten, but today there's a lot of work to do so they are having one. (have)
✅ This sentence expresses a long-standing, HABITUAL PREFERENCE or PRACTICE. So, choose the tense accordingly.
Why _____ my coat? – I'm sorry. – It _____ just like mine. (you wear, look)
are you wearing, looks
are you wearing, look
do you wear, looked
Were you wearing, is looking
✅ The first sentence expresses the CURRENT ACTION of wearing the coat. The second sentence expresses GENERAL APPEARANCE. So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5.
_____the men in black suits over there? – They _____at us in a strange way. (you see, look)
do you see, are looking
did you see, were looking
have you seen, have been looking
will you see, looked
✅ The first sentence expresses a PRESENT ABILITY to observe the men. So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5. The second sentence describes a PRESENT ONGOING ACTION. So, PRESENT CONTINUOUS tense is used i.e. is/am/are+V4.
They normally _____ a coffee break at ten, but today there's a lot of work to do so they _____ one. (have)
✅ This sentence expresses a long-standing, HABITUAL PREFERENCE or PRACTICE. So, choose the tense accordingly.
Why _____ my coat? – I'm sorry. – It _____ just like mine. (you wear, look)
Are you wearing, looks
are you wearing, look
do you wear, looked
were you wearing, is looking
✅ The first sentence expresses the CURRENT ACTION of wearing the coat. The second sentence expresses GENERAL APPEARANCE. So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5.
_____the men in black suits over there? – They _____at us in a strange way. (you see, look)
do you see, are looking
did you see, were looking
have you seen, have been looking
will you see, looked
✅ The first sentence expresses a PRESENT ABILITY to observe the men. So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5. The second sentence describes a PRESENT ONGOING ACTION. So, PRESENT CONTINUOUS tense is used i.e. is/am/are+V4.
The food _____ chemicals that make it last longer. (contain)
contains
contain
is containing
contained
✅ The sentence expresses a GENERAL CHARACTERISTIC of the food. So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5.
It _____ the moon about 28 days to travel around the earth. (take)
takes
take
Is taking
took
✅ The sentence expresses the idea that is ALWAYS TRUE and never changes. This is a FACT that is TRUE ALL THE TIME and thus it is UNIVERSAL TRUTH. So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5.
Everything in this box _____ to my grandfather. He _____ it to me instead of my brother. (belong, give)
belongs, is giving
belong, is giving
belonged, was giving
Is belonging, gave
✅ The first sentence expresses a GENERAL FACT about everything in the box. The second sentence describes an ONGOING ACTION HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. So, PRESENT CONTINUOUS tense is used i.e. is/am/are+V4.
Mary _____ through a very difficult period at university this year. (go)
is going
goes
went
will go
✅ Notice the use of THIS YEAR in the sentence. This sentence describes a TEMPORARY and ONGOING situation. So, PRESENT CONTINUOUS tense is used i.e. is/am/are+V4.
Present Simple Tense and Present Continuous Tense Quiz for grade 9
These tenses quiz fill in the blanks and multiple choice questions will test class 9 students on present continuous and present simple tense. Let’s get started.
Dad _____ everything about airplanes. He always _____ books about aviation. (know, read)
Knows, reads
know, read
knew, is reading
will know, was reading
✅ The first sentence expresses ABILITY or GENERAL KNOWLEDGE about airplanes. In the second sentence, notice the use of ALWAYS. It expresses REGULAR HABIT indicating these as RECURRING FACTS or ROUTINES. So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used in both sentences i.e. V1/V5.
I used to play football in school but now I _____ rugby. (prefer)
prefer
prefers
preferred
Will prefer
✅ The sentence expresses a CURRENT PREFERENCE. So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5.
What _____ for a living? – Well, he's a lawyer but he quit his old job and at the moment he _____ for a new one. (your dad do, look)
does your dad do, is looking
is your father doing, looks
do your father do, looked
did, was
✅ The first sentence expresses the CURRENT PROFESSION. So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5. Notice the use AT THE MOMENT in the second sentence. The second sentence describes CURRENT ACTION of searching for a new job. So, PRESENT CONTINUOUS tense is used i.e. is/am/are+V4.
You _____ shopping every Saturday. – Why do you do that? (go)
✅ Notice the use of EVERY SATURDAY. The sentence describes a RECURRING and HABITUAL ACTIVITY (going shopping EVERY SATURDAY). It indicates a REGULAR ROUTINE. So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5.
The two department managers _____ lunch at the moment. We shouldn't disturb them. (have)
are having
have
had
will have
✅ Notice the use of AT THE MOMENT in the sentence. The sentence indicates that the action of having lunch is HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. It emphasizes the CURRENT ONGOING SITUATION. Thus, PRESENT CONTINUOUS tense is used i.e. is/am/are+V4
Present Simple Tense and Present Continuous Tense Quiz for grade 8
This English grammar test covers the basics of tenses that 8th graders should know. It includes fill in the blank, multiple choice questions with answers to assess knowledge of tenses particularly of present simple tense and present continuous tense.
Teachers _____ us homework every day, but this weekend they _____ us any because of the mid-term break. (give, not give)
Give, aren't giving
gives, aren’t giving
are giving, don’t give
gave, didn’t give
✅ Notice the use of EVERY DAY in the first sentence. The sentence expresses the REGULAR ACTION. So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5. The second sentence indicates a SPECIFIC DEVIATION from the routine due to the CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCE. Thus, PRESENT CONTINUOUS tense is used i.e. is/am/are+V4
They normally have a coffee break at ten, but today there's a lot of work to do so they _____ one. (have, not have)
aren't having
don’t have
didn’t have
doesn’t have
✅ Notice the use of TODAY in the sentence. This sentence indicates a SPECIFIC DEVIATION from the regular routine due to the CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCE. So, this is a TEMPORARY ACTION. Thus, PRESENT CONTINUOUS tense is used i.e. is/am/are+V4
The air _____ strange. There must be something going on in the factory. (smellL)
smells
smell
smelt
Is smelling
✅ The sentence describes a PRESENT STATE or condition of the air. So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5
I can't listen to what you _____ to tell me because I'm so nervous at the moment. (try)
are trying
try
tried
will try
✅ The sentence describes the CURRENT and ONGOING effort of the person to communicate. Thus, PRESENT CONTINUOUS tense is used i.e. is/am/are+V4