Present Continuous Tense Quiz With Answers

The correct answer "are watching" aligns with the subject "they," which is plural, so it needs the plural auxiliary verb "are." In present continuous tense, we show an action happening now by pairing the auxiliary verb with the "-ing" form of the main verb. Here, "watch" becomes "watching" to indicate this ongoing activity. Options like "watch," "watching," and "is watching" are incorrect because they either imply a non-continuous action or use a singular verb. Therefore, "are watching" is the only correct structure for describing "they" as actively watching a movie.

"Are doing" is correct here because the subject "we" is plural and requires the plural auxiliary verb "are." In present continuous tense, we combine the correct form of "to be" with the "-ing" form of the main verb, in this case, "doing." This construction shows that "we" are actively in the process of completing homework. The options "do," "is doing," and "doing" are incorrect as they either miss the continuous aspect or are singular forms that don’t fit with the plural subject "we." Hence, "are doing" accurately reflects the ongoing action.

The phrase "am looking" is correct because the subject "I" requires the auxiliary verb "am" in the present continuous tense. This tense is used to describe actions happening at the moment, and "looking" is the "-ing" form of "look," which shows an ongoing activity. Other options, such as "look," "is looking," and "looking," either imply a simple present action, a different subject form, or lack the auxiliary verb needed for continuous tense. Therefore, "am looking" precisely conveys the action of actively searching for keys in the present moment.

To understand why "is singing" is correct, we need to identify the present continuous tense, which describes actions happening right now. Here, the subject "she" requires a singular auxiliary verb, which is "is." The main verb "sing" transforms into "singing" to show an action currently taking place. Using "is singing" maintains the continuity of the action, and the other options like "sings" and "are singing" don’t match the structure needed for this tense. "Sing" is a simple present form, while "are singing" is for plural subjects, making "is singing" the only correct choice.

"Are cooking" is correct because "you" as the subject pairs with the auxiliary verb "are" in present continuous tense. This tense shows an action that is happening now, and we need the "-ing" form of the verb "cook" to convey this ongoing process. Alternatives like "cook" and "cooks" are in simple present tense, and "cooking" alone lacks the auxiliary verb to create the continuous form. Using "are cooking" accurately represents the simultaneous preparation of dinner while another action—setting the table—occurs, making it the best choice.

The correct answer is "is going." This sentence is in the present continuous tense, which is used to express actions happening right now. The subject "Jenny" is singular, so we must use the singular form of the auxiliary verb "is." The verb "go" changes to its present participle form "going" to show that the action is currently taking place. By using "is going," the sentence clearly communicates that Jenny is in the process of traveling to school by bus at this moment.

The correct answer is "are studying." In this sentence, we are using the present continuous tense to convey that an action is happening at the current moment. The subject "we" is plural, which requires the use of the auxiliary verb "are." The main verb "study" transforms into its present participle form "studying" to accurately depict the ongoing action of preparing for the English test. Thus, "are studying" indicates that the speaker and others are actively engaged in studying at this very time.

The correct answer is "am listening." This sentence employs the present continuous tense to communicate that the action is taking place at this very moment. The subject "I" requires the auxiliary verb "am" when forming present continuous constructions. The main verb "listen" changes to "listening," which indicates that the speaker is actively engaged in the act of listening to the news right now. Therefore, "am listening" clearly conveys the urgency of the request for quiet, as the speaker is focused on their current activity.

The correct answer is "is writing." In this sentence, the present continuous tense is used to describe an action occurring at the current moment. The subject "he" is singular, which requires the use of "is" as the auxiliary verb. The main verb "write" takes the present participle form "writing" to indicate that the action is actively happening now. Therefore, "is writing" is grammatically correct and accurately represents the ongoing action of writing a letter at this specific time.

The correct answer is "are doing." This question is posed in the present continuous tense to inquire about an action currently in progress. The subject "you" necessitates the use of the auxiliary verb "are" when asking questions in the present tense. The main verb "do" is correctly transformed into its present participle form "doing," which indicates that the action is ongoing. Thus, "What are you doing?" is a straightforward way to ask someone about their current activity at this moment.

The correct answer is "Are." This question is directed toward the subject "you," which always requires the use of "are" when forming questions in the present tense. The auxiliary verb "are" is necessary here to indicate that the action is happening at the present moment. The use of "watching" as the main verb in its present participle form further emphasizes that this action is currently in progress. Therefore, the question effectively asks if the listener is presently engaged in watching television right now.

The correct answer is "is shining." This sentence describes the current state of the sun, indicating that it is actively shining at this moment. In the present tense, we employ "is" to agree with the singular subject "the sun." The verb "shine" is changed to its present participle form "shining" to reflect that the action is happening right now. Therefore, "is shining" accurately conveys that the sun is currently illuminating the sky, emphasizing its ongoing presence and brightness at this time.

The correct answer is "I am making." This sentence is framed in the present continuous tense, which indicates an action that is happening at this moment of speaking. The subject "I" requires the auxiliary verb "am" to form this tense. The main verb "make" takes on the present participle form "making" to demonstrate that the speaker is currently engaged in the act of creating a model plane. Therefore, "I am making" effectively communicates that this action is taking place right now.

The correct answer is "are playing." The subject "Jenny and Jane" is a compound subject, making it plural, which necessitates the use of the auxiliary verb "are." The present continuous tense is employed here to indicate that the action of playing football is happening at the current moment. The verb "play" must be in the present participle form "playing" to accurately reflect this ongoing action. Therefore, "are playing" effectively communicates that both girls are actively engaged in playing football right now at school.

The correct answer is "is teaching." This question is framed in the present continuous tense, which indicates an action that is occurring right now. The subject "the teacher" is singular, so we need the auxiliary verb "is" to align with it. Following the auxiliary verb, the main verb "teach" must be in its present participle form "teaching." This construction clearly asks if the teacher is currently engaged in the act of teaching English, highlighting the immediacy of the action at this moment in time.