A1 Present Continuous Grammar Test 2 (Now & Temporary Actions) – Academic English Foundations | IELTS TOEFL YDS

Practice present continuous questions, negatives, and spelling rules with academic and classroom-based sentences. This A1 grammar test is designed for IELTS, TOEFL, and YDS preparation.

Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).

Focus on:

• Question form: Am / Is / Are + subject + verb-ing

• Negative form: am not / isn’t / aren’t + verb-ing

• Spelling rules:

  • run → running

  • write → writing

  • make → making

Only one option is correct.

 

RESULTS

#1. ___ you listening to the lecture right now?

Is

Are

Do

#2. She ___ not attending the meeting today.

is

does

are

#3. ___ he working on the assignment at the moment?

Does

Is

Are

#4. We ___ not using calculators during the exam.

do

are

is

#5. Why ___ they discussing the results now?

do

are

is

#6. I am ___ notes while the teacher is speaking.

take

taking

taken

#7. The students aren’t ___ attention to the instructions.

pay

paying

paid

#8. ___ she preparing for the presentation this week?

Is

Does

Are

#9. He isn’t ___ fast because the road is crowded.

drive

driving

drove

#10. What ___ you doing during the break?

do

are

is

#11. We are ___ a short report today.

write

writing

wrote

#12. ___ I interrupting you right now?

Do

Am

Is

#13. She is ___ the experiment carefully.

run

running

ran

#14. They aren’t ___ the email at the moment.

send

sending

sent

#15. Why ___ he not answering the question?

is

does

are

PREVIOUS

FINISH

A1 Online Grammar Tests

A2 Online Grammar Tests

B1 Online Grammar Tests

B2 Online Grammar Tests

C1 Online Grammar Tests

C2 Online Grammar Tests

🧠 DETAILED TEACHING-LEVEL EXPLANATIONS (ALL ANSWERS)

1) Are you listening

• Structural reason: Present continuous questions use Am/Is/Are + subject + V-ing.

• Meaning logic: “right now” = action happening at this moment.

• Rhetorical effect: direct classroom check.

• Why others fail:

  • Is → wrong for “you”

  • Do → present simple, not continuous

• Exam note: “you” always pairs with are in continuous questions.

2) She is not attending

• Structural reason: Negative form = isn’t + V-ing.

• Meaning logic: decision about today (temporary).

• Rhetorical effect: formal schedule notice.

• Why others fail:

  • does → present simple

  • are → wrong subject agreement

• Exam note: Don’t mix “do/does” with continuous tense.

3) Is he working

• Structural reason: he → is in questions.

• Meaning logic: checking current activity.

• Rhetorical effect: academic progress inquiry.

• Why others fail:

  • Does → present simple

  • Are → plural form

• Exam note: He/she/it always uses is.

4) We are not using

• Structural reason: we → are; negative continuous.

• Meaning logic: exam rule during this period.

• Rhetorical effect: regulation emphasis.

• Why others fail:

  • do → wrong tense

  • is → wrong subject

• Exam note: Rules “during the exam” often use present continuous.

5) Why are they discussing

• Structural reason: Question word + are + subject + V-ing.

• Meaning logic: asking reason for current discussion.

• Rhetorical effect: analytical tone.

• Why others fail:

  • do → present simple

  • is → singular

• Exam note: Wh-questions keep the same inversion.

6) taking notes

• Structural reason: am + V-ing; take → taking.

• Meaning logic: action happening while teacher speaks.

• Rhetorical effect: active learning.

• Why others fail:

  • take → base form

  • taken → past participle

• Exam note: verb + ing after “am/is/are” is mandatory.

7) paying attention

• Structural reason: aren’t + V-ing.

• Meaning logic: lack of focus now.

• Rhetorical effect: mild criticism.

• Why others fail:

  • pay → base form

  • paid → past

• Exam note: negative continuous still requires -ing.

8) Is she preparing

• Structural reason: she → is in questions.

• Meaning logic: “this week” = temporary preparation.

• Rhetorical effect: planning check.

• Why others fail:

  • Does → present simple

  • Are → plural

• Exam note: “this week/month” often triggers present continuous.

9) driving fast

• Structural reason: isn’t + driving.

• Meaning logic: current traffic condition.

• Rhetorical effect: situational explanation.

• Why others fail:

  • drive → base

  • drove → past

• Exam note: verb form must match tense, not meaning alone.

10) What are you doing

• Structural reason: Wh-question + are + you + V-ing.

• Meaning logic: activity during break.

• Rhetorical effect: casual inquiry.

• Why others fail:

  • do → present simple

  • is → wrong subject

• Exam note: one of the most common IELTS speaking patterns.

11) writing a report

• Structural reason: are + writing.

• Meaning logic: task in progress today.

• Rhetorical effect: academic productivity.

• Why others fail:

  • write → base

  • wrote → past

• Exam note: “today” ≠ habit → continuous.

12) Am I interrupting

• Structural reason: “I” questions use am.

• Meaning logic: checking current action politely.

• Rhetorical effect: academic politeness.

• Why others fail:

  • Do → present simple

  • Is → wrong subject

• Exam note: “Am I…?” is a fixed continuous question form.

13) running the experiment

• Structural reason: run → running (double consonant).

• Meaning logic: experiment happening now.

• Rhetorical effect: technical academic tone.

• Why others fail:

  • run → base

  • ran → past

• Exam note: consonant-vowel-consonant → double final letter.

14) sending the email

• Structural reason: aren’t + sending.

• Meaning logic: action not happening at this moment.

• Rhetorical effect: delayed communication.

• Why others fail:

  • send → base

  • sent → past

• Exam note: negative form does not change verb-ing rule.

15) Why is he not answering

• Structural reason: he → is; question + negative continuous.

• Meaning logic: concern about current silence.

• Rhetorical effect: evaluative inquiry.

• Why others fail:

  • does → present simple

  • are → plural

• Exam note: question + negative continuous is a classic YDS trap.