Present Continuous Tense Exercises: Understand and Practice

Present Continuous Tense

Formation

To form the present continuous tense, use the following structure:

• Subject + am/is/are + verb(-ing)

Key Points:

• "Am" is used with "I" (e.g., "I am eating").

• "Is" is used with "he," "she," or "it" (e.g., "She is reading").

• "Are" is used with "we," "you," or "they" (e.g., "We are travelling").

Negative Form

To make the present continuous tense negative, add "not" after "am," "is," or "are."

• "I am not sleeping."

• "She is not going to the party."

• "They are not playing outside."

Questions

To form questions, invert the subject and the helping verb "am/is/are."

• "Are you coming to the meeting?"

• "Is he driving to work?"

• "Am I missing something?"

The present continuous tense helps convey ongoing actions and dynamic situations, making your communication more precise.

Present Continuous Tense Examples

Here are some examples of sentences in the present continuous tense:

1. I am reading a book.

2. She is cooking dinner.

3. They are playing soccer in the park.

4. We are studying for the exam.

5. He is watching a movie.

6. The dog is barking loudly.

7. She is writing a letter to her friend.

8. The children are building a sandcastle.

9. I am listening to music.

10. They are taking a walk in the evening.

Present Continuous Tense Exercises With Answers

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

1. I __________ (eat) breakfast right now.

2. She __________ (read) a novel at the moment.

3. They __________ (play) basketball in the park.

4. We __________ (watch) a documentary currently.

5. He __________ (write) a letter to his cousin.

6. The cat __________ (sleep) on the couch.

7. My friends __________ (plan) a surprise party for me.

8. The children __________ (make) a lot of noise.

9. I __________ (study) for my final exams.

10. She __________ (sing) her favorite song.

11. We __________ (decorate) the room for the party.

12. He __________ (drive) to the airport now.

13. They __________ (eat) dinner at the restaurant.

14. I __________ (look) for my keys.

15. She __________ (talk) to her boss on the phone.

16. The dog __________ (chase) its tail.

17. We __________ (travel) to Paris next week.

18. He __________ (paint) the garage this afternoon.

19. They __________ (read) the newspaper.

20. I __________ (write) a report for work.

Answers:

1. am eating

2. is reading

3. are playing

4. are watching

5. is writing

6. is sleeping

7. are planning

8. are making

9. am studying

10. is singing

11. are decorating

12. is driving

13. are eating

14. am looking

15. is talking

16. is chasing

17. are travelling

18. is painting

19. are reading

20. am writing

Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Option

Select the correct form of the verb to complete each sentence.

1. He __________ (is/are) running in the park.

2. I __________ (am/are) learning to play the guitar.

3. She __________ (is/are) taking a nap.

4. They __________ (is/are) having a barbecue today.

5. We __________ (am/are) practising yoga right now.

6. He __________ (is/are) building a treehouse.

7. The kids __________ (is/are) watching TV.

8. She __________ (am/is) eating a sandwich.

9. I __________ (is/am) writing an email.

10. They __________ (are/is) playing with their dog.

11. We __________ (is/am) organizing a fundraiser.

12. He __________ (are/is) fixing his bike.

13. She __________ (am/is) shopping for groceries.

14. They __________ (is/are) waiting for the bus.

15. I __________ (am/are) studying Spanish.

16. He __________ (is/are) taking pictures.

17. The team __________ (is/are) practicing for the match.

18. We __________ (am/are) decorating for the festival.

19. She __________ (is/are) making a cake.

20. They __________ (are/is) traveling to new places.

Answers:

1. is

2. am

3. is

4. are

5. are

6. is

7. are

8. is

9. am

10. are

11. am

12. is

13. is

14. are

15. am

16. is

17. are

18. are

19. is

20. Are

Exercise 3: Rewrite the Sentences

Rewrite the following sentences using the present continuous tense.

1. (He / watch / TV) right now.

2. (I / clean / the house) this weekend.

3. (They / practice / for the play) at the moment.

4. (She / write / a book) this year.

5. (We / have / a meeting) this afternoon.

6. (The students/study / for their exams) now.

7. (He / prepare / dinner) at the moment.

8. (They / play/chess) in the living room.

9. (She / learn / French) this semester.

10. (We / visit / our grandparents) next month.

11. (He / repair / the car) currently.

12. (I / search / for a new job) right now.

13. (The dog / run / in the yard) right now.

14. (She / take / a course) online.

15. (They / organize / a charity event) this week.

16. (We / paint / the bedroom) this weekend.

17. (He / shop / for new clothes) today.

18. (The children / make / a craft) at school.

19. (She / try / a new recipe) for dinner.

20. (I / check / my emails) right now.

Answers:

1. He is watching TV right now.

2. I am cleaning the house this weekend.

3. They are practising for the play at the moment.

4. She is writing a book this year.

5. We are having a meeting this afternoon.

6. The students are studying for their exams now.

7. He is preparing dinner at the moment.

8. They are playing chess in the living room.

9. She is learning French this semester.

10. We are visiting our grandparents next month.

11. He is repairing the car currently.

12. I am searching for a new job right now.

13. The dog is running in the yard right now.

14. She is taking a course online.

15. They are organizing a charity event this week.

16. We are painting the bedroom this weekend.

17. He is shopping for new clothes today.

18. The children are making a craft at school.

19. She is trying a new recipe for dinner.

20. I am checking my emails right now.

Exercise 4: Make Questions

Form questions using the present continuous tense for the following statements.

1. (you / study / for the exam)

2. (she / watch / a movie)

3. (they / have / a party)

4. (he / write / an article)

5. (we / plan / a trip)

6. (she / cook/dinner)

7. (you / look / for something)

8. (they / play/video games)

9. (he / take / a shower)

10. (I / work / on a project)

11. (we / listen / to music)

12. (she / drive / to the office)

13. (they / clean / the house)

14. (he / read / a newspaper)

15. (you / exercise / at the gym)

16. (we / organize / a meeting)

17. (she / walk / the dog)

18. (they / make / a cake)

19. (he / fix / the computer)

20. (I / prepare / for the presentation)

Answers:

1. Are you studying for the exam?

2. Is she watching a movie?

3. Are they having a party?

4. Is he writing an article?

5. Are we planning a trip?

6. Is she cooking dinner?

7. Are you looking for something?

8. Are they playing video games?

9. Is he taking a shower?

10. Am I working on a project?

11. Are we listening to music?

12. Is she driving to the office?

13. Are they cleaning the house?

14. Is he reading a newspaper?

15. Are you exercising at the gym?

16. Are we organizing a meeting?

17. Is she walking the dog?

18. Are they making a cake?

19. Is he fixing the computer?

20. Am I preparing for the presentation?

Exercise 5: Change Into Present Continuous Tense Exercises With Answers

1. I (to cook) dinner right now.

2. She (to dance) at the party.

3. They (to study) for their exams.

4. He (to fix) the computer.

5. We (to go) to the supermarket.

6. The kids (to play) in the garden.

7. She (to write) an email.

8. I (to read) a new book.

9. They (to swim) at the pool.

10. He (to make) breakfast.

11. We (to have) a meeting at 3 PM.

12. She (to talk) on the phone.

13. They (to work) on a project.

14. I (to watch) a documentary.

15. He (to take) a photo.

16. We (to plan) our vacation.

17. She (to paint) a picture.

18. They (to travel) to London.

19. I (to organize) the files.

20. He (to jog) in the park.

Answer:

1. I am cooking dinner right now.

2. She is dancing at the party.

3. They are studying for their exams.

4. He is fixing the computer.

5. We are going to the supermarket.

6. The kids are playing in the garden.

7. She is writing an email.

8. I am reading a new book.

9. They are swimming at the pool.

10. He is making breakfast.

11. We are having a meeting at 3 PM.

12. She is talking on the phone.

13. They are working on a project.

14. I am watching a documentary.

15. He is taking a photo.

16. We are planning our vacation.

17. She is painting a picture.

18. They are travelling to London.

19. I am organizing the files.

20. He is jogging in the park.

Test Your Knowledge of Present Continuous Tense

Task 1: Sentence Completion

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

1. I __________ (write) a letter to my friend right now.

2. They __________ (travel) to Japan this summer.

3. She __________ (paint) the fence this weekend.

4. We __________ (look) for a new apartment.

5. He __________ (talk) to his manager about the project.

Task 2: Identify the Mistake

Each sentence contains one mistake related to the present continuous tense. Identify and correct the mistake.

1. She are reading a book at the moment.

2. They is going to the beach now.

3. I am not understanding this lesson.

4. He are fixing his car this afternoon.

5. We am watching a movie tonight.

Task 3: Make Questions

Form questions from the following statements using the present continuous tense.

1. (you / work / on a new assignment)

2. (they / have / lunch)

3. (she / listen / to a podcast)

4. (we / get / ready for the trip)

5. (he / fix / the sink)

Task 4: Rewrite the Sentences

Rewrite the sentences to change the verbs to the present continuous tense.

1. I bake a cake for the party.

2. She studies French at the language school.

3. They go to the gym every evening.

4. He reads the newspaper in the morning.

5. We prepare dinner at 7 PM.

Task 5: Fill in the Gaps

Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the verb in parentheses to complete the dialogue.

1. A: What __________ (you / do) right now? B: I __________ (clean) the kitchen.

2. A: Why __________ (she / cry)? B: She __________ (watch) a sad movie.

3. A: Where __________ (they / go)? B: They __________ (leave) for a vacation.

4. A: How __________ (he / feel) about the news? B: He __________ (seem) quite excited.

5. A: What __________ (we / need) for the recipe? B: We __________ (use) flour, sugar, and eggs.

Task 6: Convert to Present Continuous

Change the following sentences into the present continuous tense.

1. I read a book.

2. She writes an email.

3. They play soccer in the park.

4. He drinks coffee.

5. We cook dinner together.

Answers:

Find Out if You Got them All Right from the Answers Below.

Task 1:

1. am writing

2. are travelling

3. is painting

4. are looking

5. is talking

Task 2:

1. She is reading a book at the moment.

2. They are going to the beach now.

3. I am not understanding this lesson. (Correct: I do not understand this lesson.)

4. He is fixing his car this afternoon.

5. We are watching a movie tonight.

Task 3:

1. Are you working on a new assignment?

2. Are they having lunch?

3. Is she listening to a podcast?

4. Are we getting ready for the trip?

5. Is he fixing the sink?

Task 4:

1. I am baking a cake for the party.

2. She is studying French at the language school.

3. They are going to the gym every evening.

4. He is reading the newspaper in the morning.

5. We are preparing dinner at 7 PM.

Task 5:

1. A: What are you doing right now?
   B: I am cleaning the kitchen.

2. A: Why is she crying?
   B: She is watching a sad movie.

3. A: Where are they going?
   B: They are leaving for a vacation.

4. A: How does he feel about the news?
   B: He seems quite excited.

5. A: What do we need for the recipe?
   B: We are using flour, sugar, and eggs.

Task 6:

1. I am reading a book.

2. She is writing an email.

3. They are playing soccer in the park.

4. He is drinking coffee.

5. We are cooking dinner together.

Takeaways from this Page

Practising present continuous tense exercises helps you understand its use in daily conversations. This tense is formed using "am/is/are" plus a verb ending in "-ing" to describe actions happening right now or temporary situations. For example, "She is studying" shows an action taking place at this moment. It's also used for future plans, like "We are travelling next month." Exercises help you form questions, such as "Are you eating?" and negatives like "He is not coming." By working through these exercises, you improve your ability to describe ongoing activities accurately and effectively.