1. Circle the correct tense.
1) ‘What do you do / are you doing tonight?’ ‘I stay / I’m staying at home.’
2) Can you text me when you get / ‘re getting home?
3) The sun rises / isrising in the east and sets / issetting in the west.
4) Why do you laugh / are you laughing ? It isn’t funny!
5) dad leaves / isleaving home every day at eight o’clock.
6) sister alwaysborrows / isalwaysborrowing clothes. It’s really annoying!
7) What time does your train arrive / is your train arriving ?
Show answers
1) are you doing, I’m staying 2) get 3) rises, sets
4) are you laughing 5) leaves 6) is always borrowing
7) does your train arrive
2. Match sentences 1-7 in exercise 1 with the uses of tense a-g below.
Present simple
a for habits and routines
b for a permanent situation or fact
c for timetables and schedules
d in future time clauses (starting with when, as soon as, after, if, etc.)
Present continuous
e for something happening now or about now
f for describing annoying behaviour (with always)
g for future arrangements
Show answers
a 5 b 3 c 7 d 2 e 4 f 6 g 1
3. Complete the dialogue with the present simple or present continuous form of the verbs in brackets.
Martin Hurry up! The film 1) _________ (start) in ten minutes.
Hannah I 2) _________ (look for) phone. 3) _________ you ____________ (know) where it is?
Martin No. Why 4) _________ you always ____________ (lose) things? It’s so annoying!
Hannah I usually 5) _________ (keep) it on bedside table, but it isn’t there.
Martin 6 _________ you ____________ (remember) when you last used it?
Hannah No – that’s the problem.
Martin You 7) _________ (not need) your phone at the cinema. Look for it when we 8) _________ (get back).
Hannah I won’t have time when we get back. I 9) _________ (go) straight out again ___ It’s OK. Here it is! It was in pocket!
Show answers
1) starts 2) ‘m looking for 3) Do, know 4) are, losing
5) keep 6) Do, remember 7) don’t need
8) get back 9) ‘m going
4. Some of the sentences are incorrect. Rewrite them correctly. Tick the correct sentences.
1) Mel is belonging to the drama club.
________
2) Do you prefer beach holidays or adventure holidays?
________
3) Call me as soon as you’re arriving.
________
4) Jack is hating spaghetti.
________
5) Why are you always interrupting?
________
6) I’m not understanding this maths calculation.
________
Show answers
1) Mel belongsto the drama club.
2) ✓
3) Call me as soon as youarrive .
4) Jack hates spaghetti.
5) ✓
6) I don’tunderstand this maths calculation.
5. Complete the sentences with the verbs below. Use the same verb in each pair of sentences. Use the present simple and present continuous.
have look think
1) a That food __________________ delicious!
b What ______________ you ______________ at?
2) a What ______________ you ______________ about?
b Who ______________ you ______________ will win the match?
3) a ‘Where’s Tom?’ ‘He ______________ a shower.’
b Dogs ______________ a good sense of smell.
Show answers
1) looks; are, looking
2) are, thinking; do, think
3) ‘s having; have
6. Complete the questions with the verbs in brackets. Use the present simple or present continuous. Then write true answers, in complete sentences.
1) Where ______________ you usually ______________ on Saturday mornings? (go)
______________
______________
2) What ______________ you usually ______________ on Saturday mornings? (do)
______________
______________
3) What time ______________ school ______________ and ______________? (start / finish)
______________
______________
4) What ______________ your parents ______________ now? (do)
______________
______________
Show answers
1) do, go 2) do, do 3) does, start, finish are, doing
IELTS Practice Tests Online
