Present Simple and progressive Quiz | Grammar Tense MCQ [SET: 15]

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.

_____ how old I am? (YOU KNOW)
Do you know
Does you know
Did you know
Are you know
✅ Do you know how old I am? (YOU KNOW)
_____ to work? – I usually drive by car, but today Jack _____ me up (YOU GET, DRIVE, PICK)
How do you get, drive, is picking
How do you gets, driving, is picking
How does you get, driving, picks
How does you gets, drive, is picking
✅ How do you get to work? – I usually drive by car, but today Jack is picking me up (YOU GET, DRIVE, PICK)
It often _____ in Ireland, but it never _____ for days on end. (RAIN, RAIN)
rains, rains
rains, is raining
is raining, is raining
is raining, rains
✅ It often rains in Ireland, but it never rains for days on end. (RAIN, RAIN)
I usually _____ so quickly that he _____ me. (SPEAK, NOT UNDERSTAND)
speak, does not understand
speaks, is not understanding
is speaking, does not understand
speaks, does not understanding
✅ I usually speak so quickly that he doesn’t understand me. (SPEAK, NOT UNDERSTAND)
Jane’s husband _____. (NOT SMOKE)
does not smoke
do not smoke
does not smoking
is not smoking
✅ Jane’s husband doesn’t smoke. (NOT SMOKE)
_____ on your coat? – I _____ for a walk. – _____ to come with me? (YOU PUT, GO, YOU WANT)
Why are you putting, am going, Do you want
Why you put, go, Are you want
Why do you put, go, Do you wants
Why are you putting, am going, Are you wanting
✅ Why are you putting on your coat? – I am going for a walk. – Do you want to come with me? (YOU PUT, GO, YOU WANT)

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.

I always _____ lottery tickets, but I _____ anything. (BUY, WIN)
buy, never win
buys, do not win
buys, never wins
buy, do not win
✅ I always buy lottery tickets, but I never win anything. (BUY, WIN)
It _____ in Egypt. (NOT OFTEN RAIN)
doesn’t often rain
don’t often rain
don’t often rains
doesn’t often rains
✅ It doesn’t often rain in Egypt. (NOT OFTEN RAIN)
_____ to him today? – Yes, I always _____ to him on his birthday. (YOU WRITE, WRITE)
Are you writing, write
Do you write, write
Are you write, writes
Do you writes, writes
✅ Are you writing to him today? – Yes, I always write to him on his birthday. (YOU WRITE, WRITE)
Can you hear that? The car _____ such a strange noise? – It’s OK. It always _____ like that. (MAKE, SOUND)
is making, sounds
makes, sounds
is making, is sounding
makes, is sounding
✅ Can you hear that? The car is making such a strange noise? – It’s OK. It always sounds like that. (MAKE, SOUND)
The plane that you _____ at right now _____ for Paris. (LOOK, LEAVE)
are looking, is leaving
are looking, leaves
looks, is leaving
looks, leaves
✅ The plane that you are looking at right now is leaving for Paris. (LOOK, LEAVE)
What _____ to his car? – I think he _____ it. (HE DO, POLISH)
is he doing, is polishing
does he do, polishes
does he do, is polishing
is he doing, polishes
✅ What is he doing to his car? – I think he is polishing it. (HE DO, POLISH)

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.

Susan _____ to her parents every Sunday. In fact, she _____ to them today. (WRITE, WRITE)
writes, is writing
write, is writing
writes, writes
write, write
✅ Susan writes to her parents every Sunday. In fact, she is writing to them today. (WRITE, WRITE)
Stop at once! You _____ the flowers every time the ball _____ in the garden! (DESTROY, LAND)
destroy, lands
destroys, lands
destroy, is landing
destroys, is landing
✅ Stop at once! You destroy the flowers every time the ball lands in the garden! (DESTROY, LAND)
Where is Kevin? I can’t find him anywhere. – He _____ with Sue in the garden (PLAY).
is playing
plays
play
is plays
✅ Where is Kevin? I can’t find him anywhere. – He is playing with Sue in the garden (PLAY).
She normally _____ in London, but this weekend she _____ with some friends in Liverpool. (LIVE, STAY)
lives, is staying
live, is staying
lives, stays
live, stays
✅ She normally lives in London, but this weekend she is staying with some friends in Liverpool. (LIVE, STAY)
Hurry up, the teacher _____ to begin! (WAIT)
is waiting
waits
wait
are waiting
✅ Hurry up, the teacher is waiting to begin! (WAIT)
I _____ a word he _____. (NOT BELIEVE, SAY)
don’t believe, is saying
doesn’t believe, says
don’t believing, is saying
doesn’t believing, says
✅ I don’t believe a word he says / is saying. (NOT BELIEVE, SAY)
What _____ for a living, Claire? – Well as a secretary , I _____ emails for my boss all the time. (YOU DO, WRITE)
do you do, write
does you do, writes
do you doing, write
does you doing, writes
✅ What do you do for a living, Claire? – Well as a secretary , I write emails for my boss all the time. (YOU DO, WRITE)
Look over there! He _____ in a non-smoking area! (SMOKE)
is smoking
smokes
smoke
is smokes
✅ Look over there! He is smoking in a non-smoking area! (SMOKE)

When to use Present Simple Tense (Image Illustration) 

Present simple tense is used to show:

  • 👉 present affairs
  • 👉 habitual actions
  • 👉 fixed time table
  • 👉 truths and facts

when 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: _____ how old I am? (you know)

Answer: Do you know how old I am?

Explanation: The sentence forms a question about a GENERAL FACT (asking if the person has KNOWLEDGE of the speaker's age). So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5.


Question: How do you get to work? – I usually _____ by car, but today Jack _____ me up (drive, pick)

Answer: How do you get to work? – I usually drive by car, but today Jack is picking me up.

Explanation: Notice the use of USUALLY in the sentence. The sentence expresses a HABITUAL ACTION for commuting to work. So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5 for the first sentence. The second sentence describes a specific action HAPPENING AT THE CURRENT MOMENT. So, PRESENT CONTINUOUS tense is used i.e. is/am/are+V4.


Question: It often _____ in Ireland, but it never _____ for days on end. (rain, rain)

Answer: It often rains in Ireland, but it never rains for days on end. 

Explanation: Notice the use of OFTEN and NEVER in the sentence. The sentence expresses GENERAL FACTS or OCCURRENCES. So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5.


Question: I usually _____ so quickly that he doesn’t understand me. (speak)

Answer: I usually speak so quickly that he doesn’t understand me. 

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


Question: Jane’s husband _____. (not smoke)

Answer: Jane’s husband doesn’t smoke

Explanation: The sentence indicates a GENERAL FACT or a HABITUAL ACTION (Jane's husband's non-smoking habit). So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5.


Question: Why are you putting on your coat? – I _____ for a walk. (go)

Answer: Why are you putting on your coat? – I am going for a walk.

Explanation: The sentence expresses an action that is PLANNED FOR THE NEAR FUTURE (going for a walk). So, PRESENT CONTINUOUS tense is used i.e. is/am/are+V4.


Question: I always _____ lottery tickets, but I never _____ anything. (buy, win)

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

Explanation: Notice the use of ALWAYS and NEVER in the sentence. This sentence to describe HABITUAL ACTIONS (buying lottery tickets) and GENERAL TRUTHS (never winning anything). So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5.


Question: It _____ in Egypt. (not often rain)

Answer: It doesn’t often rain in Egypt.

Explanation: The sentence expresses a GENERAL FACT or a REGULAR OCCURRENCE (the infrequency of rain in Egypt). So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5.


Question: _____ to him today? – Yes, I always write to him on his birthday. (you write)

Answer: Are you writing to him today? – Yes, I always write to him on his birthday. 

Explanation: The sentence describes a SPECIFIC ACTION HAPPENING TODAY WHICH IS ONGOING (writing to him).  So, PRESENT CONTINUOUS tense is used i.e. is/am/are+V4.


Question: Can you hear that? The car is making such a strange noise? – It’s OK. It always _____ like that. (sound)

Answer: Can you hear that? The car is making such a strange noise? – It’s OK. It always sounds like that.

Explanation: Notice the use of ALWAYS in the sentence. The sentence describes a RECURRING or HABITUAL CHARACTERISTIC of the car (it always makes that strange noise). So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5.


Question: The plane that you _____ at right now _____ for Paris. (look, leave)

Answer: The plane that you are looking at right now is leaving for Paris. 

Explanation: Notice the use of NOW. The sentence indicates an ACTION THAT IS CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS (looking at the plane) and another action that is SCHEDULED TO HAPPEN IN THE NEAR FUTURE (the plane is leaving for Paris). So, PRESENT CONTINUOUS tense is used for both sentence i.e. is/am/are+V4.


Question: What is he doing to his car? – I think he _____ it. (polish)

Answer: What is he doing to his car? – I think he is polishing it.

Explanation: The sentence describes an ACTION THAT IS CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS (he is polishing his car). So, PRESENT CONTINUOUS tense is used i.e. is/am/are+V4.


Question: Susan _____ to her parents every Sunday. In fact, she _____ to them today. (write, write)

Answer: Susan writes to her parents every Sunday. In fact, she is writing to them today.

Explanation: Notice the use of EVERY SUNDAY and TODAY in the sentence. The first sentence describes a HABITUAL ACTION. So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5. The second sentence indicates an action HAPPENING AT THE CURRENT MOMENT. So, PRESENT CONTINUOUS tense is used i.e. is/am/are+V4.


Question: Where is Kevin? I can’t find him anywhere. – He _____ with Sue in the garden (play).

Answer: Where is Kevin? I can’t find him anywhere. – He is playing with Sue in the garden.

Explanation: The sentence indicates an action that is CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS. So, PRESENT CONTINUOUS tense is used i.e. is/am/are+V4.


Question: She normally _____ in London, but this weekend she _____ with some friends in Liverpool. (live, stay)

Answer: She normally lives in London, but this weekend she is staying with some friends in Liverpool.

Explanation: Notice the use of NORMALLY and THIS WEEKEND. The first sentence describes a HABITUAL or REGULAR RESIDENCE. So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5. The second sentence indicates a TEMPORARY SITUATION or AN ACTION HAPPENING AT THE CURRENT MOMENT. So, PRESENT CONTINUOUS tense is used i.e. is/am/are+V4.


Question: Hurry up, the teacher _____ to begin! (wait)

Answer: Hurry up, the teacher is waiting to begin!

Explanation: The sentence indicates an action that is CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS. So, PRESENT CONTINUOUS tense is used i.e. is/am/are+V4.


Question: What do you do for a living, Claire? – Well as a secretary , I _____ emails for my boss all the time. (write)

Answer: What do you do for a living, Claire? – Well as a secretary , I write emails for my boss all the time. 

Explanation: The sentence expresses a HABITUAL TASK or DUTY (writing emails for the boss). The sentence indicates a REGULAR PART of Claire's JOB as a secretary. So, PRESENT SIMPLE tense is used i.e. V1/V5.

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. 

Whether you're a Class 8 grammar enthusiast or a Grade 10 student aiming for improving your grammar knowledge, our quizzes offer a blend of education and entertainment. 

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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