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Present Tense Exercises

Practice these present tense exercises to enhance your understanding of different forms of the present tense. These exercises will help you improve your grammar skills and gain confidence in identifying and using the correct present tense forms in sentences.

Exercise 1 – Identify the type of present tense

Read the following sentences given below and identify the type of the present tense.

1. The train departs at 6:45 a.m.
2. Liam drinks green tea every evening.
3. Sophia is reading a mystery novel.
4. The orchestra is performing beautifully.
5. Jake has just stepped out.
6. I have known Olivia since childhood.
7. I am working on a new project.
8. The toddler has been watching cartoons all day.
9. They have been traveling across Europe for weeks.
10. Noah has eaten the last slice of pizza.
11. I have completed my assignment.
12. It snows frequently in December.
13. My cousin is arriving tonight.
14. I have sprained my ankle.
15. The engineers have been constructing the bridge for months.

Answers for Exercise 1

1. Simple Present Tense
2. Simple Present Tense
3. Present Continuous Tense
4. Present Continuous Tense
5. Present Perfect Tense
6. Present Perfect Tense
7. Present Continuous Tense
8. Present Perfect Continuous Tense
9. Present Perfect Continuous Tense
10. Present Perfect Tense
11. Present Perfect Tense
12. Simple Present Tense
13. Present Continuous Tense
14. Present Perfect Tense
15. Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Exercise 2 – Rewrite as directed

Change the following sentences into different forms of the present tense given in brackets.

1. The wind had been blowing strongly since dawn. (present perfect continuous tense)
2. Emma has baked a delicious cake. (present continuous tense)
3. The chef prepares the ingredients. (present continuous tense)
4. Oliver is fixing the broken chair. (present perfect continuous tense)
5. The bus left an hour ago. (simple present tense)
6. We were discussing the project. (present continuous tense)
7. The principal wanted to meet you. (simple present tense)
8. Lucas finished his homework. (simple present tense)
9. We had been waiting for the doctor since morning. (present perfect continuous tense)
10. Sophie just stepped out. (present perfect tense)

Answers for Exercise 2

1. The wind has been blowing strongly since dawn.
2. Emma is baking a delicious cake.
3. The chef is preparing the ingredients.
4. Oliver has been fixing the broken chair.
5. The bus leaves every hour.
6. We are discussing the project.
7. The principal wants to meet you.
8. Lucas finishes his homework.
9. We have been waiting for the doctor since morning.
10. Sophie has just gone out.

Exercise 3 – Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in the present tense.

1. She ______ (go) to the gym every morning.
2. We ______ (watch) a new movie right now.
3. Noah ______ (read) a book in his room.
4. The teacher ______ (explain) the topic to the students.
5. I ______ (know) her for five years.
6. The sun ______ (rise) in the east.
7. They ______ (work) on an important project this week.
8. He ______ (just finish) his lunch.
9. My grandparents ______ (live) in the countryside.
10. Olivia ______ (study) for her final exams these days.
11. The baby ______ (cry) loudly at the moment.
12. We ______ (wait) for the bus for over an hour.
13. Ryan ______ (play) the piano beautifully.
14. She ______ (not like) spicy food.
15. The workers ______ (build) a new shopping mall for months.

Answers for Exercise 3

1. She goes to the gym every morning.
2. We are watching a new movie right now.
3. Noah is reading a book in his room.
4. The teacher is explaining the topic to the students.
5. I have known her for five years.
6. The sun rises in the east.
7. They have been working on an important project this week.
8. He has just finished his lunch.
9. My grandparents live in the countryside.
10. Olivia is studying for her final exams these days.
11. The baby is crying loudly at the moment.
12. We have been waiting for the bus for over an hour.
13. Ryan plays the piano beautifully.
14. She does not like spicy food.
15. The workers have been building a new shopping mall for months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is the present tense?

In the present tense, the action/event happens in the present or current time. For example, “Rahul is eating food.”

Q2. What are the different subcategories of present tense?

There are four subcategories of the present tense: simple present tense, present continuous tense, present perfect tense, and present perfect continuous tense.

Q3. How is the simple present tense used?

The simple present tense is used to describe habitual actions, general truths, and fixed schedules. For example, “The sun rises in the east.”

Q4. When do we use the present continuous tense?

The present continuous tense is used for actions happening right now or temporary situations. For example, “She is reading a book.”

Q5. What is the difference between present perfect and present perfect continuous tense?

The present perfect tense is used for actions completed at some point in the past but still relevant in the present, while the present perfect continuous tense emphasizes the duration of an ongoing action. For example:

• Present Perfect: “I have finished my homework.”
• Present Perfect Continuous: “I have been studying for three hours.”