Present Tense Exercises: Grammar Practice (A1-B2) with Answers

⏱ Time: 10:00 📝 Questions: 20 📊 Level: A1, A2, B1, B2 📚 Type: Grammar ⭐ XP: up to +22 (on pass)
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How well do you really know Present Tense? Find out with 20 exercises for Level A1-B2 learners. Instant scoring shows exactly where you stand, and detailed explanations turn every mistake into a learning moment. Retake any time to measure your improvement.

⏱ You have 10:00 to answer 20 questions. The timer only starts when you click Begin.

Q1  20
Q1 20

Question 1: She ___ to school every day.

Question 1 options
'goes' is correct because the subject 'she' is third person singular, which requires the verb 'go' to add -es in the simple present tense. 'go' lacks the third-person -es ending. 'going' is a participle, not a simple present form. 'goed' is not a real English word.
Q2 20

Question 2: I ___ happy today.

Question 2 options
'am' is correct because the first person singular pronoun 'I' always pairs with 'am' in the present tense of 'be.' 'is' is for third person singular. 'are' is for you/we/they. 'be' is the base form, not used as a finite verb here.
Q3 20

Question 3: Cats ___ milk.

Question 3 options
'like' is correct because 'cats' is a plural subject, so the simple present verb does not take an -s ending. 'likes' would be used with a singular subject.
Q4 20

Question 4: He ___ not like fish.

Question 4 options
'does' is correct because third person singular subjects (he, she, it) use 'does' as the auxiliary in present simple negative sentences. 'do' is for I/you/we/they. 'is' and 'has' are not used to form negatives with action verbs in the simple present.
Q5 20

Question 5: In the simple present tense, we add -s or -es to the base verb when the subject is he, she, or it.

Question 5 options
True because third person singular subjects require the verb to take an -s or -es ending in the simple present (e.g., 'she walks,' 'he watches').
Q6 20

Question 6: Look! The children ___ in the park right now.

Question 6 options
'are playing' is correct because 'right now' and 'Look!' signal an action happening at this moment, which requires the present continuous tense (be + -ing). 'play' and 'plays' are simple present. 'played' is past tense.
Q7 20

Question 7: Water ___ at 100 degrees Celsius.

Question 7 options
'boils' is correct because we use the simple present to state general scientific facts and universal truths. The subject 'water' is third person singular, so the verb needs -s. 'is boiling' implies it is happening right now. 'boil' lacks the -s. 'boiled' is past tense.
Q8 20

Question 8: ___ you usually walk to work, or do you drive?

Question 8 options
'Do' is correct because questions in the simple present with 'you' require the auxiliary 'do.' 'Does' is for third person singular. 'Are' would require a present participle. 'Have' does not form simple present questions with action verbs.
Q9 20

Question 9: She ___ three languages: English, French, and Spanish.

Question 9 options
'speaks' is correct because we use the simple present for permanent abilities and states. The subject 'she' is third person singular, requiring -s. 'is speaking' implies she is speaking all three right at this moment. 'speak' lacks the -s. 'has spoken' is present perfect, not simple present.
Q10 20

Question 10: Put these words in the correct order to form a present continuous question:

Question 10 options
  • she
  • a book?
  • reading
  • Is

Drag items or use arrows to arrange them in the correct order.

The correct order is 'Is she reading a book?' In present continuous questions, the auxiliary 'is' comes before the subject 'she,' followed by the -ing verb and the object.
Q11 20

Question 11: I ___ this cake. It's delicious!

Question 11 options
'love' is correct because 'love' is a stative verb expressing emotion, and stative verbs are normally used in the simple present, not the continuous. 'am loving' is generally incorrect with stative verbs. 'loves' requires a third person singular subject. 'loving' is not a complete verb form here.
Q12 20

Question 12: My brother ___ the guitar every evening after dinner.

Question 12 options
'plays' is correct because 'my brother' is third person singular and the time marker 'every evening' indicates a habitual action, which requires the simple present with an -s ending.
Q13 20

Question 13: The train ___ at 9:15 tomorrow morning according to the timetable.

Question 13 options
'departs' is correct because we use the simple present for scheduled future events based on timetables or fixed programs. 'is departing' could work for personal arrangements but not fixed schedules. 'will depart' is future simple, less natural for timetables. 'departed' is past tense.
Q14 20

Question 14: The present continuous tense can be used to describe temporary situations happening around now, even if not at the exact moment of speaking.

Question 14 options
True because the present continuous is used for temporary actions and situations around the present time, such as 'I'm reading a great novel this week,' even if the person is not reading it at that exact second.
Q15 20

Question 15: I ___ for this company since 2018.

Question 15 options
'have worked' is correct because 'since 2018' indicates an action that started in the past and continues to the present, which requires the present perfect tense. 'work' is simple present and cannot be used with 'since.' 'am working' is present continuous and doesn't fit 'since.' 'worked' is past simple and implies the action is finished.
Q16 20

Question 16: She ___ dinner for two hours and it still isn't ready.

Question 16 options
'has been cooking' is correct because the present perfect continuous is used for an action that started in the past, is still ongoing, and emphasizes the duration ('for two hours'). 'cooks' is simple present for habits. 'cooked' is past tense. 'is cooking' doesn't convey the duration from a past starting point.
Q17 20

Question 17: Match each sentence to the correct present tense type.

Question 17 options
She works at a bank.
He is writing an email.
They have visited Paris three times.
I have been waiting for an hour.
Present Perfect
Present Perfect Continuous
Present Continuous
Present Simple

Select an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.

'She works at a bank' is a habitual action (simple present). 'He is writing an email' is an action in progress now (present continuous). 'They have visited Paris three times' is a life experience (present perfect). 'I have been waiting for an hour' emphasizes duration of an ongoing action (present perfect continuous).
Q18 20

Question 18: He ___ more and more forgetful these days.

Question 18 options
'is becoming' is correct because 'these days' signals a changing or developing situation around the present time, which requires the present continuous. 'becomes' would describe a permanent habit. 'has become' implies the change is complete. 'became' is past tense.
Q19 20

Question 19: Which sentence correctly uses the present perfect with 'just'?

Question 19 options
'She has just finished her homework' is correct because 'just' is placed between the auxiliary 'has' and the past participle 'finished' to indicate a very recently completed action. The other options have incorrect word order or use the wrong tense with 'just.'
Q20 20

Question 20: I ___ what you mean; this problem is really confusing.

Question 20 options
'don't understand' is correct because 'understand' is a stative verb used in the simple present to express a mental state. The negative form with 'I' requires 'don't' + base verb.