A2 Present Continuous Grammar Test 3 – 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, negative sentences, and questions for IELTS, TOEFL, YDS, and general English exams.
The Present Continuous is used to talk about actions happening now, temporary situations, and activities happening around the present time. At A2 level, learners need to know how to choose the correct form of am, is, or are and how to use the -ing form of the main verb. This test gives students practice with positive sentences, negative sentences, and questions, which is useful for IELTS, TOEFL, YDS, school exams, placement tests, and everyday English communication.
RESULTS
#1. She ___ a letter to her friend now.
#2. They ___ in the sea at the moment.
#3. I ___ my bedroom right now.
#4. He ___ his shoes because they are dirty.
#5. We ___ dinner now because we are not hungry.
#6. Is she ___ for the bus?
#7. The boys ___ basketball in the school yard.
#8. My father ___ the car at the moment.
#9. Why ___ they shouting?
#10. The cat ___ under the table.
#11. I ___ a jacket today because it is cold.
#12. Are you ___ your teacher carefully?
#13. She ___ her phone now, so she cannot answer you.
#14. Look! The birds ___ over the trees.
#15. We ___ TV at the moment. We are talking.
Answer Explanations
Question 1 Explanation
The correct answer is is writing. The word “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 swimming. The phrase “at the moment” tells us that the action is happening now. With the subject “they,” we use “are” in the Present Continuous. The verb “swim” changes to “swimming” because the final consonant is doubled before adding -ing.
Question 3 Explanation
The correct answer is am cleaning. The phrase “right now” clearly shows that the action is happening at the present moment. With the subject “I,” the Present Continuous uses “am” plus the -ing form of the main verb. Therefore, “am cleaning” is the correct structure.
Question 4 Explanation
The correct answer is is washing. The sentence describes an action happening now because his shoes are dirty. With the subject “he,” we use “is” in the Present Continuous. The main verb must be in the -ing form, so “is washing” is correct.
Question 5 Explanation
The correct answer is are not eating. The word “now” shows that the sentence refers to the present moment. In negative Present Continuous sentences with “we,” we use “are not” plus the -ing form of the verb. The sentence means that the speakers are not eating dinner at this time.
Question 6 Explanation
The correct answer is waiting. In Present Continuous questions, the structure is “be” plus subject plus the -ing form of the main verb. The auxiliary “is” is already used at the beginning of the question. For this reason, the main verb must be “waiting.”
Question 7 Explanation
The correct answer is are playing. The sentence describes an action happening now or around the present time. “The boys” is a plural subject, so the correct form of “be” is “are.” The main verb takes the -ing form, so “are playing” is correct.
Question 8 Explanation
The correct answer is is repairing. The phrase “at the moment” shows that the action is happening now. “My father” is a singular subject, so we use “is” in the Present Continuous. The verb “repair” becomes “repairing” by adding -ing.
Question 9 Explanation
The correct answer is are. This is a Present Continuous question, so it needs the correct form of “be” before the subject. The subject is “they,” so the correct auxiliary is “are.” The full question structure is “Why are they shouting?”
Question 10 Explanation
The correct answer is is sleeping. The sentence describes what the cat is doing now. With the singular subject “the cat,” we use “is” in the Present Continuous. The main verb must be in the -ing form, so “is sleeping” is the correct answer.
Question 11 Explanation
The correct answer is am wearing. The word “today” can describe a temporary situation happening around the present time. With the subject “I,” we use “am” in the Present Continuous. The sentence means that the speaker has a jacket on today because the weather is cold.
Question 12 Explanation
The correct answer is listening to. In Present Continuous questions, the auxiliary “are” is followed by the subject and the -ing form of the main verb. The verb “listen” is usually followed by the preposition “to” when there is an object. Therefore, “listening to” is the correct form in this question.
Question 13 Explanation
The correct answer is is using. The word “now” shows that the action is happening at the present moment. With the subject “she,” we use “is” plus the -ing form of the verb. The sentence explains that she cannot answer because she is using her phone right now.
Question 14 Explanation
The correct answer is are flying. The word “Look!” often introduces an action happening now. “The birds” is a plural subject, so we use “are” in the Present Continuous. The main verb must take the -ing form, so “are flying” is correct.
Question 15 Explanation
The correct answer is are not watching. The phrase “at the moment” shows that the sentence refers to the present time. In a negative Present Continuous sentence with “we,” we use “are not” plus the -ing form of the verb. The second sentence, “We are talking,” confirms that watching TV is not happening now.
