Grammar Challenge

Present Continuous
Practice activities

British Broadcasting Corporation 2007

BBC Learning English Grammar Challenge

Present Continuous
Quiz 1:
Match the beginnings of the sentences to the correct endings.

She never usually has time for

1. a. she's sleeping in.
books but she's on holiday so

Look at him! He's supposed to be

2. b. It's raining.
on a diet but

So that's why you're drinking

3. Now that he's out of hospital c.
champagne!

he's sitting there eating a huge bar

4. Quick! Have you got an umbrella? d.
of chocolate!

She gets up early every day for

5. e. I'm revising for my exams.
school but today's Saturday so

6. I can't go out just now because f. they're riding their bikes instead.

They usually drive to work but

7. because the weather is so nice g. she's reading loads just now.
today

8. Congratulations! h. he's playing a lot more sport now.

Grammar Challenge BBC Learning English

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BBC Learning English Grammar Challenge

Present Continuous
Quiz 2:
Look at each of the statements in the following quiz. Some of them are grammatically correct and
some of them are wrong, they have mistakes. Decide whether the statement is correct or wrong.

1. We're nurses but we have the day off today so we're not working.
a. Correct
b. Wrong

2. It's a lovely day! The sun shining and the wind blowing gently.
a. Correct
b. Wrong

3. Helen cant come to the phone now, shes have a shower.

a. Correct
b. Wrong

4. I'm reading the new Harry Potter book just now. It's great.
a. Correct
b. Wrong

5. A: Where's Neil? B: He talks to that guy over there, at the bar.

a. Correct
b. Wrong

6. She's riding her bike every day.

a. Correct
b. Wrong

Grammar Challenge BBC Learning English

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BBC Learning English Grammar Challenge

Present Continuous - Answers

Quiz 1:
Match the beginnings of the sentences to the correct endings.

She never usually has time for

1. g. she's reading loads just now.
books but she's on holiday so

Look at him! He's supposed to be he's sitting there eating a huge bar
2. d.
on a diet but of chocolate!

3. Now that he's out of hospital h. he's playing a lot more sport now.

4. Quick! Have you got an umbrella? b. It's raining.

She gets up early every day for

5. a. she's sleeping in.
school but today's Saturday so

6. I can't go out just now because e. I'm revising for my exams.

They usually drive to work but

7. because the weather is so nice f. they're riding their bikes instead.
today

So that's why you're drinking

8. Congratulations! c.
champagne!

Grammar Challenge BBC Learning English

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BBC Learning English Grammar Challenge

Present Continuous - Answers

Quiz 2:
Read the sentences and decide whether the question tags are in the correct form.

1. We're nurses but we have the day off today so we're not working.
a. Correct Yes, well done, the verb forms in this sentence are correct.
b. Wrong No sorry, we use the present continuous to talk about what we're doing
around now.

2. It's a lovely day! The sun shining and the wind blowing gently.
a. Correct No, sorry, the auxiliary 'to be' is missing from this sentence.
b. Wrong Yes, well done, the auxiliary 'to be' is missing from this sentence.

3. Helen cant come to the phone now, shes have a shower.

a. Correct No, sorry, the form is incorrect.
b. Wrong Yes, well done, you need the present participle of the main verb
(verb + ing) in the present continuous.

4. I'm reading the new Harry Potter book just now. It's great.
a. Correct Yes, well done, the form is correct.
b. Wrong No, sorry, the form is correct. We use the present continuous to talk about
what we're doing around now.

5. A: Where's Neil? B: He talks to that guy over there, at the bar.

a. Correct No, sorry, the form is incorrect. We use the present continuous to talk
about what we're doing at the moment of speaking.
b. Wrong Yes, well done, we use the present continuous to talk about what
we're doing at the moment of speaking.

6. She's riding her bike every day.

a. Correct No, sorry, the present continuous is not correct here.
b. Wrong Yes, well done, We don't use the present continuous to talk about
things we do every day or our habits.

Grammar Challenge BBC Learning English

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