Ready to sharpen your grammar skills? In this simple vs continuous quiz, you'll enjoy present tense practice as you learn to identify in present tense forms with confidence. Whether you're testing your knowledge with a present simple quiz or tackling a lively present continuous exercise, this free challenge caters to English learners of every level. Explore real-life examples, spot the difference in simple vs continuous structures, and boost your accuracy. Feel the thrill of mastering tense usage and monitor your progress each step of the way. Click this quick quiz or explore our interactive test to begin now!
She ____ to work by bus every day.
is going
goes
go
has gone
The simple present is used to describe habitual actions or routines, such as commuting to work daily. The present continuous ("is going") would suggest an action happening right now, which doesn't fit the routine context. The form "go" is the infinitive, not conjugated for third-person singular. For more on simple present usage, see this guide.
Which sentence correctly uses the present continuous tense?
They watch TV now.
They are watching TV now.
They watched TV now.
They have watched TV now.
The present continuous tense requires the auxiliary verb "to be" + present participle (-ing), used for actions happening at the moment of speaking. Only option (b) fits this structure. Options (a), (c), and (d) use simple present, simple past, and present perfect respectively, which convey different time frames. For further information, visit Cambridge ELT.
I ____ lunch at the moment.
eat
am eating
eats
have eaten
The phrase "at the moment" signals an action currently in progress, requiring the present continuous form "am eating." The simple present "eat" describes habitual actions, not specific ongoing events. "Eats" is third-person singular, incorrect for "I," and "have eaten" is the present perfect tense. See EF English Live for more details.
Tom usually ____ his homework after dinner.
is doing
does
do
did
The adverb "usually" indicates a habitual action, which is expressed using the simple present tense in English. The correct third-person singular form is "does." "Is doing" would imply an ongoing action now, "do" is the base form and not conjugated, and "did" is past tense. Further explanation at British Council.
Look! It ____ outside.
rains
is raining
has rained
will rain
The exclamation "Look!" indicates an action happening at this very moment, so the present continuous ("is raining") is appropriate. The simple present ("rains") describes general truths or habits, not current events. "Has rained" is present perfect, and "will rain" is future. See Perfect English Grammar.
She ____ the truth, I assure you.
is knowing
knows
know
has known
Verbs that describe states, feelings, or mental activities (stative verbs) usually do not take continuous forms. "Know" is a stative verb, so the simple present "knows" is correct. "Is knowing" is ungrammatical for this verb in most contexts. For more on stative verbs, see Grammarly Stative Verbs.
Listen! The birds ____.
sing
are singing
have sung
sung
The command "Listen!" signals that an action is occurring right now, so the present continuous "are singing" correctly describes the ongoing sound. The simple present "sing" usually refers to habitual or general actions. "Have sung" and "sung" are forms of the present perfect or past participle. See EF English.
The company ____ a new product next month.
launches
is launching
launch
has launched
Present continuous is often used to describe planned future events or arrangements. Therefore "is launching" is correct here. The simple present "launches" can also refer to timetabled events but is less common for plans. "Launch" is the base form and "has launched" is present perfect. More info at English Page.
I ____ Spanish, so I can't help you with that translation.
am not knowing
didn't know
don't know
haven't known
The verb "know" is stative, and when expressing lack of knowledge, English uses the simple present ("don't know"). The present continuous is not used with most stative verbs. "Didn't know" is past simple, and "haven't known" is present perfect, both incorrect here. Learn more at Perfect English Grammar.
Which sentence is grammatically incorrect?
I am knowing the answer.
I know the answer.
She knows the answer.
They know the answer.
The verb "know" is stative and does not usually take the continuous form. "I am knowing the answer" is incorrect because stative verbs like "know" should be used in the simple form. The other sentences correctly use the simple present tense. For further reading, see Cambridge Dictionary.
_____ the shop ____ at 9 tomorrow?
Does / open
Is / opening
Has / opened
Opening / does
For scheduled or timetabled future events, English often uses the simple present in questions: "Does the shop open at 9 tomorrow?" While present continuous can express future plans, the simple present is more common for fixed schedules. "Is opening" is acceptable in some contexts but less typical for public timetables. More at BBC Learning English.
Which sentence correctly uses the present continuous with a stative verb to indicate a temporary feeling?
I feel hungry just now.
I am feeling hungry just now.
I have felt hungry just now.
I will feeling hungry just now.
While most stative verbs do not take continuous forms, "feel" can be used in both ways. The present continuous "am feeling" emphasizes a temporary state at this moment. "I feel" is simple present for general states, not emphasizing the present moment. For more on transient vs permanent states, see Illuminate.
0
{"name":"She ____ to work by bus every day.", "url":"https://www.quiz-maker.com/QPREVIEW","txt":"She ____ to work by bus every day., Which sentence correctly uses the present continuous tense?, I ____ lunch at the moment.","img":"https://www.quiz-maker.com/3012/images/ogquiz.png"}
Study Outcomes
Identify in Present Tense -
Practice how to identify in present tense contexts using our present simple quiz and present continuous exercise. Recognize correct verb forms in real-life sentences.
Distinguish Simple vs Continuous Usage -
Differentiate between habitual actions and ongoing events to choose the correct tense in our simple vs continuous quiz.
Apply Tense Rules -
Use standard grammar rules to select the appropriate present simple or present continuous form in varied sentence structures.
Analyze Contextual Clues -
Interpret time expressions and adverbs to determine whether a sentence calls for present simple or present continuous tense.
Evaluate Sentence Accuracy -
Assess your present tense practice by identifying and correcting errors in present simple and present continuous usage.
Enhance Grammar Confidence -
Build confidence in your present tense skills through focused present continuous exercises and quiz feedback.
Cheat Sheet
Forming the Tenses -
Present simple is built with the base verb (add "s" for third person singular) while present continuous uses the correct form of "to be" plus the "-ing" form (e.g., "She writes" vs "She is writing"). According to Cambridge University Press, mastering these patterns is essential to identify in present tense contexts accurately. Practice each form separately to solidify your understanding before mixing them in a simple vs continuous quiz.
Habitual vs Ongoing Actions -
Present simple expresses habits, routines, and general truths ("He jogs every morning"), whereas present continuous focuses on actions happening right now or around now ("He is jogging in the park"). Research from Oxford University highlights that distinguishing these uses helps learners ace any present tense practice. Try labeling daily activities as "simple" or "continuous" to reinforce this contrast.
Signal Words and Mnemonics -
Adverbs like "always," "often," and "every day" pair with present simple, while "now," "at the moment," and "currently" cue continuous forms. Use the mnemonic SANE (Simple: Always, Never, Every day) vs NOW (Continuous: Now, Ongoing, While) to remember key signals. Spotting these markers in sentences makes any present continuous exercise more intuitive.
Stative Verbs Exception -
Certain verbs - such as "know," "believe," "love," and "belong" - are stative and rarely appear in continuous forms, even if the action feels ongoing. Dub these "STaTiC" verbs (State, Thought, Acknowledgment, Taste, Internal feeling, Condition) to avoid common errors in a simple vs continuous quiz. Refer to Cambridge Dictionary's list of stative verbs for more examples and practice.
Self-Testing Strategies -
Regularly engage with a present simple quiz and present continuous exercise from reputable sources like Oxford English Practice or university language labs to boost retention. Mix fill-in-the-blank, multiple-choice, and sentence-correction formats to challenge yourself in varied contexts. Tracking your progress on each section helps you quickly identify weaknesses in present tense practice.
