We use the present continuous tense to talk about actions and situations that are going on at the moment of speaking. The present continuous can also be used to talk about actions and situations going on ‘around now’.
Study the sentence given below.
- I am reading David Copperfield now.
I am not exactly reading it at the moment of speaking, but it is the novel I am reading these days.
Test your understanding of present continuous tense with this grammar exercise. Fill in the blanks using the present continuous form of the verbs given in the brackets.
1Mother ............... baking a cake for me.
Wrong!
Use "is" with the singular subject "Mother" in the present continuous tense.
2I ............... eating my breakfast.
Wrong!
Use "am" with the subject "I" in the present continuous tense.
3Suma ............... waiting for us.
Wrong!
Use "is" with the singular subject "Suma" in the present continuous tense.
4Susie ............... arranging the flowers in the vase.
Wrong!
Use "is" with the singular subject "Susie" in the present continuous tense.
5Rahul ............... studying for his exams.
Wrong!
Use "is" with the singular subject "Rahul" in the present continuous tense.
6Veena ............... playing the violin.
Wrong!
Use "is" with the singular subject "Veena" in the present continuous tense.
7My sister ............... doing her homework.
Wrong!
Use "is" with the singular subject "My sister" in the present continuous tense.
8The girls ............... rehearsing their dialogues.
Wrong!
Use "are" with the plural subject "The girls" in the present continuous tense.
9The cat ............... chasing the mouse.
Wrong!
Use "is" with the singular subject "The cat" in the present continuous tense.
10The boy ............... fetching water from the pond.
Wrong!
Use "is" with the singular subject "The boy" in the present continuous tense.
11The students ............... learning their lessons.
Wrong!
Use "are" with the plural subject "The students" in the present continuous tense.
12The children ............... flying kites.
Wrong!
Use "are" with the plural subject "The children" in the present continuous tense.
Done.
Score: 0/12
Answers
- Mother is baking a cake for me.
- I am eating my breakfast.
- Suma is waiting for us.
- Susie is arranging the flowers in the vase.
- Rahul is studying for his exams.
- Veena is playing the violin.
- My sister is doing her homework.
- The girls are rehearsing their dialogues.
- The cat is chasing the mouse.
- The boy is fetching water from the pond.
- The students are learning their lessons.
- The children are flying kites.

