Present Continuous Tense Exercise 3 (Basic English Level)
Welcome to the Present Continuous (Present Progressive) practice quiz with full explanations of every options. This set helps you learn am/is/are + -ing formation, uses for ongoing actions, temporary activities, future arrangements, and typical negative/question forms. Every question includes a clear verb definition and a line-by-line explanation of why the correct option is correct and why each incorrect option is wrong — so you learn grammar and vocabulary together.
Definition: Present Continuous (Present Progressive)
- Form: am / is / are + verb-ing (e.g., I am working; she is studying; they are preparing).
- Use: actions happening now, temporary actions, near-future plans/arrangements, changing situations, and repeated irritating actions with adverbs like always.
- Negatives/Questions: form negatives with am not / is not (isn’t) / are not (aren’t) and form questions by inverting the subject and auxiliary: Am I…? Is she…? Are they…?.
- To learn more about Present Continuous Tense – Visit Here
Quiz Instructions
- Read each question and choose the best answer out of four given options.
- On top, header section of the quiz, you will see the “title of the quiz,’ ‘spending-time,’ ‘value of question in points,’ and ‘number of questions.”
- Below on footer, you will see Full Screen mode. As the name suggests, it covers the whole screen. It will save a lot of your time attempting the quiz.
- You can zoom the images given in the questions.
- After submitting the quiz, you can see your score and compare with other users.
- The Full Leaderboard link will take you to a page, where you can see all users attempts.
- Below the quiz box, there are explanation of each options. You can study and try again.
- Best of Luck!
Quiz Question, Answer and Explanation
Note: Do remember in the quiz box above, the questions and options will shuffle, so they won’t have the same sequence like 1, 2, 3, or A, B, C as below.
1. They ______ the data every hour right now to check consistency.
A) refresh B) are refreshing C) refreshes D) refreshed
Verb definition: refresh = to update data to the latest state.
Correct: B) are refreshing
Why B correct: Repeated current action during this period — present continuous fits.
Why A wrong: base form not progressive.
Why C wrong: 3rd singular simple present.
Why D wrong: past tense.
2. The manager ______ the proposal this afternoon.
A) review B) is reviewing C) reviews D) reviewed
Verb definition: review = to examine something carefully.
Correct: B) is reviewing
Why B is correct: Present continuous used for scheduled activity happening today.
Why A wrong: base form not progressive.
Why C wrong: simple present habitual.
Why D wrong: past.
3. Why ______ you ______ the document again?
A) are, send B) do, send C) are, sending D) do, sending
Verb definition: send = to cause something to go or be taken to a destination.
Correct: C) are / sending
Why C is correct: Question in present continuous: Why are you sending the document again? (action now).
Why A wrong: are send is ungrammatical; after are you need -ing form.
Why B wrong: do send simple present is odd; not progressive for current action.
Why D wrong: do sending is ungrammatical.
4. I ______ with the vendor about delivery times now.
A) negotiate B) am negotiating C) negotiates D) negotiated
Verb definition: negotiate = to discuss to reach an agreement.
Correct: B) am negotiating
Why B is correct: First-person present continuous: I am negotiating (now).
Why A wrong: base form not progressive.
Why C wrong: 3rd singular simple present, wrong subject and form.
Why D wrong: past tense.
5. She ______ an email to confirm the appointment.
A) compose B) composes C) is composing D) composed
Verb definition: compose = to write or create text (e.g., an email).
Correct: C) is composing
Why C is correct: Ongoing action at the moment: she is composing an email.
Why A wrong: base form not progressive.
Why B wrong: simple present habitual.
Why D wrong: past.
6. They usually ______ the monthly report, but right now they ______ it together.
A) prepare, summarize B) prepare, are summarizing C) prepared, summarizing D) preparing, summarize
Verb definitions: prepare = to make ready; summarize = to give concise account.
Correct: B) prepare, are summarizing
Why B is correct: Habit (simple present they prepare the monthly report) contrasted with current activity (present continuous they are summarizing it together).
Why A wrong: second part uses base form not progressive for current action.
Why C wrong: first part past; second part participle without auxiliary.
Why D wrong: forms mismatch and ungrammatical.
7. The system ______ new user accounts as they register.
A) create B) creates C) is creating D) created
Verb definition: create = to bring into existence (accounts).
Note: In some contexts creates (simple present) would be acceptable as a habitual or general truth; but the question’s phrasing “as they register” implies ongoing process — hence present continuous is stronger.
Correct: C) is creating
Why C is correct: Action happening continuously as users register — present continuous suits ongoing real-time process.
Why A wrong: base form not progressive.
Why B wrong: simple present creates could be used, but is creating emphasizes the ongoing process; both can be used depending on emphasis — however the question signals current ongoing activity.
Why D wrong: past.
8. You ______ that file to the client later, remember?
A) will send B) are sending C) send D) sending
Verb definition: send = to cause to be delivered.
Correct: B) are sending
Why B is correct: Present continuous expresses arranged future plan: you are sending that file later.
Why A wrong: will send future is possible but the present continuous is the common form for planned arrangements.
Why C wrong: send simple present could be used for timetabled events but less natural for personal arrangement.
Why D wrong: sending needs auxiliary.
9. He ______ the new menu items this week to test customer response.
A) introduce B) is introducing C) introduces D) introduced
Verb definition: introduce = to present something new.
Correct: B) is introducing
Why B is correct: Ongoing scheduled action this week — present continuous.
Why A wrong: base form not progressive.
Why C wrong: simple present habitual.
Why D wrong: past.
10. Why ______ they ______ the database backup now?
A) do, perform B) are, performing C) are, perform D) do, performing
Verb definition: perform = to carry out a task or operation.
Correct: B) are / performing
Why B is correct: Present continuous question: Why are they performing the backup now? (action in progress).
Why A wrong: do perform is rarely used; also not progressive.
Why C wrong: are perform is ungrammatical (needs -ing).
Why D wrong: ungrammatical pairing.