Present Tenses Test B1 Grammar Exercises

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Congratulations - you have completed Present Tenses Test B1 Grammar Exercises. You scored %%SCORE%% out of %%TOTAL%%. Your performance has been rated as %%RATING%%

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Question 1

Liz and James _____ dinner at a restaurant on Saturdays, but they _____ at home now.

A	never eat / are eating
B	always eat / eat
C	are always eating / eat
D	usually eat / are eating

Question 1 Explanation:

Use the present simple with usually for a habit (on Saturdays). Use the present continuous for an action happening now: they are eating. Not never eat, because but shows a contrast with their normal habit.

Question 2

Rick _____ me for some money, but he _____ me back.

A	always asks / is always paying
B	is always asking / never pays
C	has never asked / never pays
D	never asks / has never been paying

Question 2 Explanation:

Always with the present continuous (is always asking) shows that a repeated action annoys the speaker. The second part is a simple habit, so it takes the present simple: never pays. Not has never asked, because but he never pays me back only makes sense if Rick does ask.

Question 3

More and more people _____ of cancer these days, and we still _____ no cure for it.

A	are dying / have
B	die / have
C	are dying / are having
D	die / are having

Question 3 Explanation:

More and more and these days show a changing situation, so we use the present continuous: are dying. Have is a state verb meaning 'possess', so it is not used in the continuous: we have no cure, not are having.

Question 4

Your clothes are covered in mud, Jason! _____ you _____ outdoors in this weather?

A	Are / playing
B	Have / been playing
C	Have / play
D	Do / playing

Question 4 Explanation:

The muddy clothes are a present result of a recent, longer activity, so we use the present perfect continuous: Have you been playing. Not Are you playing, because Jason is not playing now; he has stopped.

Question 5

We _____ it strange, but a piece of iron and a feather _____ at the same speed in a vacuum.

A	find / fall
B	have found / are falling
C	are finding / fall
D	have been finding / are falling

Question 5 Explanation:

Find (= think, have an opinion) is a state verb, so we use the present simple: we find it strange. A scientific fact also takes the present simple: they fall at the same speed. Not are falling, because this is a general truth, not something happening now.

Question 6

Nancy _____ a party next Friday, but I _____. I have an important meeting at that time.

A	is giving / am not going
B	gives / don't go
C	has given / haven't been going
D	has been giving / don't go

Question 6 Explanation:

For fixed future plans and arrangements we use the present continuous: Nancy is giving a party next Friday, I am not going. Not don't go, because the present simple is not used for personal plans like this.

Question 7

Why on earth _____ so fast? The train _____ at four o'clock and it is only one o'clock.

A	do you drive / has been leaving
B	are you driving / has left
C	do you drive / is leaving
D	are you driving / leaves

Question 7 Explanation:

The driving is happening now, so we use the present continuous: are you driving. For timetables (trains, buses) we use the present simple, even for the future: the train leaves at four.

Question 8

Dad _____ as a baker for forty years and he _____ to work for at least another twenty years.

A	is working / wants
B	has been working / wants
C	works / is wanting
D	has worked / has wanted

Question 8 Explanation:

An action that started in the past and continues now, with for forty years, takes the present perfect continuous: has been working. Want is a state verb, so it is in the present simple: he wants, not is wanting.

Question 9

_____ that small house over there? I _____ there since I was born.

A	Do you see / have been living
B	Are you seeing / live
C	Do you see / am living
D	Are you seeing / have lived

Question 9 Explanation:

See (with your eyes) is a state verb, so we say Do you see, not Are you seeing. With since I was born we use the present perfect continuous for a situation that continues up to now: have been living.

Question 10

I am not sure, but I think I _____ to France five or six times so far.

A	am going
B	have been
C	have been going
D	go

Question 10 Explanation:

For life experience with a number of times and so far, we use the present perfect: I have been to France five or six times. Not have been going, because we count completed visits, which does not take the continuous.

Question 11

It _____ awful in this room because Karen _____ here for hours without opening a window.

A	is smelling / smokes
B	is smelling / has smoked
C	smells / is smoking
D	smells / has been smoking

Question 11 Explanation:

Smell (= have a smell) is a state verb, so we say it smells, not is smelling. For hours shows an activity continuing up to now with a present result, so we use the present perfect continuous: has been smoking.

Question 12

She rarely _____, but she usually _____ to get a high mark in maths.

A	is studying / has managed
B	has been studying / is managing
C	studies / manages
D	is studying / managed

Question 12 Explanation:

Rarely and usually describe habits, so both verbs are in the present simple: studies and manages. Not is studying, because the continuous is for actions happening now, not habits.

Question 13

We _____ already _____ a payment. As far as I know, it _____ all the taxes.

A	have / made / includes
B	are / making / is including
C	have / made / has been including
D	have / been making / has included

Question 13 Explanation:

Already goes with the present perfect for a finished action with a present result: We have already made a payment. Include is a state verb, so it takes the present simple: it includes all the taxes.

Question 14

She _____ usually _____ that way, but these days she _____ very rude to everybody.

A	isn't / acting / has been
B	hasn't / acting / has been
C	doesn't / act / is being
D	isn't / acting / is

Question 14 Explanation:

A normal habit with usually takes the present simple: She doesn't usually act that way. Be in the present continuous (is being rude) describes temporary behaviour, here these days. Not is very rude, because that describes her character, not a temporary change.

Question 15

They _____ just _____ their job, and they _____ a coffee break at the moment.

A	have / been finishing / have
B	are / finishing / have had
C	are / finishing / have
D	have / finished / are having

Question 15 Explanation:

Just goes with the present perfect for a very recent finished action: have just finished. At the moment shows an action in progress now, so we use the present continuous: are having a coffee break (have here means 'take', so it can be continuous).

Question 16

In the latest episode of that TV series, Jill _____ a terrible accident, but a handsome guy _____ her immediately to a hospital.

A	is having / has been taking
B	has had / is taking
C	has / has taken
D	has / takes

Question 16 Explanation:

We often use the present simple to tell the story of a film, book or TV episode: Jill has a terrible accident, a handsome guy takes her to hospital. Not has had / has taken, because we are telling the events in order, not giving results.

Question 17

Matt _____ lemonade since this morning, but he _____ only three glasses so far.

A	sells / is selling
B	has been selling / has sold
C	sells / has been selling
D	is selling / has sold

Question 17 Explanation:

Since this morning shows an activity continuing up to now, so we use the present perfect continuous: has been selling. Only three glasses so far counts a finished result, so we use the present perfect simple: has sold.

Question 18

Molly _____ her driving test four times, but she is so determined that she _____ still _____ to pass it.

A	fails / is / trying
B	has been failing / has / tried
C	is failing / has / been trying
D	has failed / is / trying

Question 18 Explanation:

Four times counts experiences up to now, so we use the present perfect: has failed. Still with an action going on at present takes the present continuous: she is still trying. Not has been failing, because we count the separate failures.

Question 19

Steve _____ to the cafe for lunch, but he _____ back in the office now.

A	goes / is being
B	has been / is
C	is going / has been
D	has gone / is

Question 19 Explanation:

Has been to means he went and has come back: Steve has been to the cafe, and now he is back in the office. Not has gone, because has gone to means he is still there.

Question 20

The classroom _____ empty because all the children _____ out to play basketball in the garden.

A	is / have gone
B	has been / go
C	is / have been
D	has been / are going

Question 20 Explanation:

The present state takes the present simple: The classroom is empty. Have gone means the children left and are still away, which explains why the room is empty. Not have been, because that would mean they went out and came back.

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