A2 Present Continuous Grammar Test 1 – 15 Questions with Detailed Explanations
Practice A2 Present Continuous with this 15-question English grammar test. Learn how to use am, is, are, verb-ing forms, negatives, and questions for IELTS, TOEFL, YDS, and general English exams.
The Present Continuous is used to talk about actions happening now, around the present time, or temporary situations. At A2 level, learners need to understand how to use am, is, and are with the -ing form of the verb. This test helps students practise positive sentences, negative sentences, and questions in the Present Continuous, which is useful for IELTS, TOEFL, YDS, school exams, placement tests, and everyday English communication.
RESULTS
#1. She ___ dinner in the kitchen right now.
#2. They ___ football in the park at the moment.
#3. I ___ my homework now.
#4. He ___ TV because he is studying.
#5. Look! The children ___ in the garden.
#6. Are you ___ to music now?
#7. My mother ___ a book at the moment.
#8. We ___ for the bus now.
#9. The baby ___ because she is hungry.
#10. I ___ my phone at the moment.
#11. Is your brother ___ in his room?
#12. The students ___ an English test now.
#13. She ___ a red dress today.
#14. Why ___ you laughing?
#15. It ___ outside, so take an umbrella.
Answer Explanations
Question 1 Explanation
The correct answer is is cooking. The phrase “right now” shows that the action is happening at the moment of speaking. In the Present Continuous, we use the correct form of “be” plus the -ing form of the main verb. Since the subject is “she,” the correct auxiliary is “is.”
Question 2 Explanation
The correct answer is are playing. The expression “at the moment” shows that the action is happening now. With the subject “they,” we use “are” in the Present Continuous. The main verb must be in the -ing form, so “playing” is needed.
Question 3 Explanation
The correct answer is am doing. The word “now” tells us that the action is happening at the present moment. With the subject “I,” the Present Continuous uses “am” plus the -ing form of the verb. Therefore, the correct structure is “am doing.”
Question 4 Explanation
The correct answer is isn’t watching. The sentence explains that he is studying, so he is not watching TV at this moment. For a negative Present Continuous sentence with “he,” we use “is not” or “isn’t” plus the -ing form of the verb. The correct negative form is “isn’t watching.”
Question 5 Explanation
The correct answer is are running. The word “Look!” often introduces an action happening now. With the plural subject “the children,” we use “are” in the Present Continuous. The verb “run” changes to “running” because the final consonant is doubled before adding -ing.
Question 6 Explanation
The correct answer is listening. In Present Continuous questions, the structure is “be” plus subject plus the -ing form of the verb. The auxiliary “are” is already given at the beginning of the question. For this reason, the main verb must be “listening.”
Question 7 Explanation
The correct answer is is reading. The phrase “at the moment” shows that the action is happening now. With the singular subject “my mother,” we use “is” in the Present Continuous. The main verb takes the -ing form, so “is reading” is correct.
Question 8 Explanation
The correct answer is are waiting. The word “now” shows that the action is happening at the present time. With the subject “we,” the correct form of “be” is “are.” The main verb must be in the -ing form, so “are waiting” is the correct answer.
Question 9 Explanation
The correct answer is is crying. The sentence describes an action happening now because the baby is hungry. With the singular subject “the baby,” we use “is” in the Present Continuous. The verb “cry” changes to “crying” by adding -ing.
Question 10 Explanation
The correct answer is am not using. The phrase “at the moment” shows that the sentence refers to the present time. With the subject “I,” the negative Present Continuous form is “am not” plus the -ing form of the verb. Therefore, “am not using” is the correct structure.
Question 11 Explanation
The correct answer is sleeping. In Present Continuous questions, the auxiliary verb comes before the subject, and the main verb stays in the -ing form. The auxiliary “is” is already used at the beginning of the question. Because of this structure, “sleeping” is the correct form after the subject.
Question 12 Explanation
The correct answer is are taking. The word “now” shows that the action is happening at the moment of speaking. “The students” is a plural subject, so we use “are.” The main verb must be in the -ing form, giving the correct structure “are taking.”
Question 13 Explanation
The correct answer is is wearing. The word “today” can describe a temporary situation happening around the present time. With the subject “she,” the Present Continuous uses “is” plus the -ing form of the verb. The sentence means that she has a red dress on today.
Question 14 Explanation
The correct answer is are. This is a Present Continuous question, so it needs the correct form of “be” before the subject. With the subject “you,” we use “are.” The structure is “Why are you laughing?”
Question 15 Explanation
The correct answer is is raining. The sentence describes the weather happening now, and the advice to take an umbrella depends on the current situation. With the subject “it,” we use “is” in the Present Continuous. The main verb takes the -ing form, so “is raining” is correct.
