Present Simple and progressive Quiz | Grammar Tense MCQ [SET: 13]

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




 

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.

It often _____ in Ireland. That’s why they call it the “Green Island”. But it _____ there at the moment. (rain, not rain)
rains, is not raining
rain, is not raining
rained, was not raining
has rained, didn’t rain
✅ It often rains in Ireland. That’s why they call it the “Green Island”. But it is not raining there at the moment.
Such behaviour normally _____ me furious (make).
makes
make
made
is making
✅ Such behavior normally makes me furious.
I _____ a word he says. (not believe)
don’t believe
didn’t believe
doesn’t believe
won’t believe
✅ I don’t believe a word he says.
I _____ a hat today because it’s such a special event. (wear)
am wearing
wear
wore
will wear
✅ I am wearing a hat today because it’s such a special event.
Susan _____ an email to her parents nearly every Saturday evening. (write)
writes
write
is writing
wrote
✅ Susan writes an email to her parents nearly every Saturday evening.
Stop right now! You _____ the flowers every time the ball _____ in the flower bed. (break, land)
break, lands
break, land
broke, landed
are breaking, is landing
✅ Stop right now! You break the flowers every time the ball lands in the flower bed.
Where is Jimmy? – I don’t know. I think he _____ tennis with his younger brother, Mark. (think, play)
is playing
was playing
plays
played
✅ Where is Jimmy? – I don’t know. I think he is playing tennis with his younger brother, Mark.
My mum _____ a party for her best friends once a year. (organise)
organises
organize
is organizing
organized
✅ My mum organises a party for her best friends once a year.
She _____ in London. But she _____ currently _____ with friends up in Scotland. (live, stay)
lives, is staying
live, is staying
is living, was staying
Lived, has stayed
✅ She lives in London. But she is currently staying with friends up in Scotland.
Our headmaster rarely _____ a class. He has a lot of administrative work to do. (teach)
teaches
teach
taught
is teaching
✅ Our headmaster rarely teaches a class. He has a lot of administrative work to do.

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.

As the private secretary of the boss I _____ up to a hundred emails every day. (read).
read
reads
is reading
has read
✅ As the private secretary of the boss I read up to a hundred emails every day.
Look at her! – She _____ in a non-smoking area. (smoke)
is smoking
smokes
smoked
will smoke
✅ Look at her! – She is smoking in a non-smoking area.
Dana _____ reading a good novel. (love)
loves
love
loved
will love
✅ Dana loves reading a good novel.
Songs that are not very popular _____ very well. (not sell)
do not sell
does not sell
are not selling
didn’t sell
✅ Songs that are not very popular do not sell very well.
My brother isn’t here. He _____ Spain at the moment. (tour)
is touring
tours
was touring
toured
✅ My brother isn’t here. He is touring Spain at the moment.
Tom always _____ the strangest questions in class. (ask)
asks
ask
asked
asking
✅ Tom always asks the strangest questions in class.

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.

I _____ lottery tickets every week, but I never _____ anything (BUY, WIN)
buy, win
buys, wins
am buying, am wining
bought, won
✅ I buy lottery tickets every week, but I never win anything.
You can’t disturb them. They _____ a game of cards. (play)
are playing
play
played
will play
✅ You can’t disturb them. They are playing a game of cards.
Our children _____ going skiing with us. (enjoy)
enjoy
are enjoying
enjoyed
enjoys
✅ Our children enjoy going skiing with us.
The plane _____ the runway now. You are too late. (leave)
is leaving
leaves
left
was leaving
✅ The plane is leaving the runway now. You are too late.
She _____ of leaving home and going to Australia for a year. (think)
is thinking
thinks
was thinking
thought
✅ She is thinking of leaving home and going to Australia for a year.

When to use Present Simple Tense (Image Illustration) 

Present simple tense is used to show:

  • 👉 present affairs
  • 👉 habitual actions
  • 👉 fixed time table
  • 👉 truths and factswhen to use Present simple tense

When to use Present Continuous Tense (Image Illustration) 

Present continuous tense is used to show:

  • 👉 activities happening now
  • 👉 present moment
  • 👉 future plans
  • 👉 gradual change

when to use Present continuous tense

Tense Question, Answer and Explanation

You can download the following present simple and present continuous tense question, answer and explanation.

Question: It often _____ in Ireland. That’s why they call it the “Green Island”. But it _____ there at the moment. (rain, not rain)

Answer: It often rains in Ireland. That’s why they call it the “Green Island”. But it is not raining there at the moment. 

Explanation: Notice the use of often in the first sentence. It states a GENERAL FACT about weather patterns. So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5. Notice the use of AT THE MOMENT in the second sentence. It describes the CURRENT ONGOING weather condition. So, PRESENT CONTINUOUS tense is used i.e. is/am/are+V4.


Question: Such behaviour normally _____ me furious (make).

Answer: Such behaviour normally makes me furious.

Explanation: Notice the use of NORMALLY in the sentence. The sentence expresses a GENERAL REACTION or RESPONSE (getting furious). It indicates USUAL and RECURRING feelings. So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5.


Question: I _____ a word he says. (not believe)

Answer: I don’t believe a word he says. 

Explanation: The sentence expresses a GENERAL and PRESENT disbelief in the statements. It indicates a HABITUAL lack of trust. So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5.


Question: I _____ a hat today because it’s such a special event. (wear)

Answer: I am wearing a hat today because it’s such a special event. 

Explanation: Notice the use of TODAY in the sentence. It indicates the CURRENT ACTION of wearing a hat. The sentence emphasizes that it's HAPPENING AT THE PRESENT MOMENT for the special event. So, PRESENT CONTINUOUS tense is used i.e. is/am/are+V4.


Question: Susan _____ an email to her parents nearly every Saturday evening. (write)

Answer: Susan writes an email to her parents nearly every Saturday evening.

Explanation: Notice the use of EVERY SATURDAY EVENING in the sentence. The sentence describes a REGULAR AND RECURRING ACTION i.e. HABITUAL ACTIVITY. So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5.


Question: Stop right now! You _____ the flowers every time the ball _____ in the flower bed. (break, land)

Answer: Stop right now! You break the flowers every time the ball lands in the flower bed. 

Explanation: The sentence expresses HABITUAL ACTIONS that occur whenever the ball lands in the flower bed. It indicates a REGULAR OCCURRENCE. So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5.


Question: Where is Jimmy? – I don’t know. I think he _____ tennis with his younger brother, Mark. (think, play)

Answer: Where is Jimmy? – I don’t know. I think he is playing tennis with his younger brother, Mark. 

Explanation: Notice the use of THINK in the sentence. The sentence expresses a CURRENT BELIEF about Jimmy's activity. So, PRESENT CONTINUOUS tense is used i.e. is/am/are+V4.


Question: My mum _____ a party for her best friends once a year. (organise)

Answer: My mum organises a party for her best friends once a year. 

Explanation: Notice the use of ONCE A YEAR in the sentence. The sentence describes a RECURRING and HABITUAL ACTION. It indicates a REGULAR EVENT. So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5.


Question: She _____ in London. But she _____ currently _____with friends up in Scotland. (live, stay)

Answer: She lives in London. But she is currently staying with friends up in Scotland. 

Explanation: The first sentence states a REGULAR FACT about where she usually resides. So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5. Notice the use of CURRENTLY in the second sentence. The second sentence describes TEMPORARY SITUATION. It emphasizes that it's HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. So, PRESENT CONTINUOUS tense is used i.e. is/am/are+V4.


Question: Our headmaster rarely _____ a class. He has a lot of administrative work to do. (teach)

Answer: Our headmaster rarely teaches a class. He has a lot of administrative work to do. 

Explanation: Notice the use of RARELY in the sentence. The sentence describes an INFREQUENT and IRREGULAR action (rarely teaching a class). So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5


Question: As the private secretary of the boss I _____ up to a hundred emails every day. (read).

Answer: As the private secretary of the boss I read up to a hundred emails every day.

Explanation: Notice the use of EVERY DAY in the sentence. The sentence describes a REGULAR ACTION. So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5.


Question: Look at her! – She _____ in a non-smoking area. (smoke)

Answer: Look at her! – She is smoking in a non-smoking area. 

Explanation: Notice the use of LOOK AT HER in the sentence. It describes the CURRENT, ONGOING ACTION of someone smoking in a non-smoking area.


Question: Dana _____ reading a good novel. (love)

Answer: Dana loves reading a good novel. 

Explanation: The sentence expresses a GENERAL STATE of PREFERENCE or HABIT. So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5.


Question: Songs that are not very popular _____ very well. (not sell)

Answer: Songs that are not very popular do not sell very well. 

Explanation: The sentence describes a GENERAL TRUTH or statement about the sales performance of songs that are not very popular. It indicates a CONSISTENT PRESENT TREND. So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5.


Question: My brother isn’t here. He _____ Spain at the moment. (tour)

Answer: My brother isn’t here. He is touring Spain at the moment. 

Explanation: Notice the use of AT THE MOMENT. The sentence describes the CURRENT ONGOING ACTION. So, PRESENT CONTINUOUS tense is used i.e. is/am/are+V4.


Question: Tom always _____ the strangest questions in class. (ask)

Answer: Tom always asks the strangest questions in class.

Explanation: Notice the use of ALWAYS in the sentence. The sentence expresses a HABITUAL ACTION indicating a REGULAR OCCURRENCE. So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5.


Question: I _____ lottery tickets every week, but I never _____ anything (BUY, WIN)

Answer: I buy lottery tickets every week, but I never win anything.

Explanation: Notice the use of EVERY WEEK and NEVER in the sentences. The both adverbs express REGULAR and RECURRING ACTIONS indicating HABITS/ROUTINE. So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5.


Question: You can’t disturb them. They _____ a game of cards. (play)

Answer: You can’t disturb them. They are playing a game of cards. 

Explanation: The sentence describes the CURRENT, ONGOING ACTION. So, PRESENT CONTINUOUS tense is used i.e. is/am/are+V4.


Question: Our children _____ going skiing with us. (enjoy)

Answer: Our children enjoy going skiing with us.

Explanation: The sentence expresses a GENERAL and REGULAR RECURRING enjoyment activity. So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5.


Question: The plane _____ the runway now. You are too late. (leave)

Answer: The plane is leaving the runway now. You are too late. 

Explanation: Notice the use of NOW in the sentence. The sentence describes the CURRENT ACTION of the plane departing from the runway. The sentences expresses that incident is HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. So, PRESENT CONTINUOUS tense is used i.e. is/am/are+V4.


Question: She _____ of leaving home and going to Australia for a year. (think)

Answer: She is thinking of leaving home and going to Australia for a year. 

Explanation: The sentence describes the CURRENT STATE of contemplation and consideration. So, PRESENT CONTINUOUS tense is used i.e. is/am/are+V4.


Tense Question, Answer and Explanation (PDF)

If you want to get the pdf version of tense question, answer and explanation, you can get it here.

Faq (Present simple and present progressive)

What is the difference between present continuous and present simple?

Present continuous is usually used to show temporary action where as present simple is used to show permanent action.


What is the present simple and present continuous sentence?

''She works at the office'' is a simple sentence and ''she is working on a project right now'' is a present continuous sentence.


When to use present continuous?

Present continuous tense is basically used to show things that are happening now, future plans and arrangements, and gradual change


When to use present simple?

Present simple tense is basically used to show present affairs, permanent or long-lasting situations, and habitual actions.


Great! Did you enjoy the grammar quiz?  Our Tense Grammar Quizzes cater to various grade levels, providing an enriching experience for learners of all ages. 

Learn English grammar with confidence, and let our quizzes guide you towards proficiency. Enhance your grammar skills effortlessly with our user-friendly, free online grammar tests. Happy learning!

Tense important questions and answers

What is the present simple tense?
We use the simple present tense to show the fact which is universal and/or regular action.
What is the present simple tense for kids?
Simple present tense describes a constant or repeating action that is always true. For example, the sun rises from the east.
What is present tense simple formula?
The Simple Present Tense formula is: Subject + V1/V5 + Object.
What are the examples of simple present tense?
I eat breakfast every morning. Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. She works at the library. The sun rises from the east.
What is present simple tense?
We use the simple present tense to show the fact which is universal and/or regular action.
What is the present continuous tense and example?
Present continuous tense denotes actions/events that are in progress while we speak about them. These actions are to be completed in the future.
Example: I am currently studying for my exams.
What is the structure of present continuous tense?
The structure of present continuous tense is: Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing + objects/complements.
What are the present continuous tense rules?
The present continuous tense, also known as the present progressive tense, is formed by using the present tense of the auxiliary verb "to be" (am/are/is) and adding the present participle (base verb + -ing) of the main verb.
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