English grammar quiz
English present tenses quiz: all four
I work, I’m working, I’ve worked or I’ve been working? Four present tenses in one quiz: 24 questions, every answer explained.
- 24 questions
- Level A2–B1
- Every answer explained
- No sign-up
Quiz: Present tenses
Choose the right option — you’ll instantly see if you got it and why. Your score comes after the last question.
Question 1.
She usually (blank) to work by bus.
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Usually signals a habit, so the Present Simple. With she add -s / -es: goes.
Question 2.
Look! It (blank) again.
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Look! points to something happening right now, so the Present Continuous: is snowing.
Question 3.
I (blank) this film three times — I know every line.
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How many times in your life is experience, and when doesn’t matter. Experience takes the Present Perfect: have seen.
Question 4.
Your eyes are red. (blank) you been crying?
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We can see the result (red eyes) of a longer action that has just been going on: the Present Perfect Continuous, have been + -ing; in a question Have goes first.
Question 5.
We (blank) each other since we were kids.
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Since means it started in the past and is still true, so the Present Perfect. Know is a state verb and isn’t used in the continuous: have known, not have been knowing.
Question 6.
This soup (blank) delicious!
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Taste meaning “have a flavour” is a state verb, so the Present Simple: tastes. (Is tasting means “trying”: The chef is tasting the soup.)
Question 7.
I (blank) for you for 40 minutes! Where are you?
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For 40 minutes: the action started in the past, is still going on, and its length matters. That’s the Present Perfect Continuous: have been waiting.
Question 8.
Hurry up! The train (blank) at 7:15.
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Timetables (trains, classes, films) take the Present Simple, even about the future: The train leaves at 7:15.
Question 9.
Tom isn’t here. He (blank) to London. He’ll be back next week.
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Has gone to means he went and is still there (that’s why he isn’t here). Has been to means he went and came back.
Question 10.
How long (blank) this car?
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How long…? about a situation that is still going on takes the Present Perfect. Have meaning “own” is a state verb, so not continuous: have you had.
Question 11.
At the moment I (blank) a really interesting book about space.
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At the moment is a Present Continuous marker. I haven’t finished the book; it’s in progress these days: am reading.
Question 12.
Sorry, I (blank) my homework yet.
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Yet in negatives and questions is a Present Perfect marker: there’s no result up to now. Haven’t finished.
Question 13.
I (blank) sushi. What does it taste like?
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Life experience (“never in my life”) takes the Present Perfect with never: have never tried.
Question 14.
My sister (blank) from home this week because her office is closed.
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This week describes a temporary situation, not a permanent one: the Present Continuous, is working.
Question 15.
How often (blank) your parents?
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How often…? asks about a routine, so the Present Simple: How often do you visit…?
Question 16.
No pizza for me, thanks — I (blank) lunch.
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Just means “a moment ago”: the action has just finished and the result matters (I’m full). The Present Perfect: have just had.
Question 17.
This bag (blank) to my brother.
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Belong is a state verb (possession) and isn’t used in the continuous. The Present Simple: belongs.
Question 18.
It (blank) since the morning, so take an umbrella.
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Since the morning: it started in the morning and is still going on. The Present Perfect Continuous: has been raining.
Question 19.
I (blank) this film is a bit boring.
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Think meaning “have an opinion” is a state verb: the Present Simple, I think. (I’m thinking means “considering”.)
Question 20.
Shh! The baby (blank). Don’t wake him up.
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Shh! The baby is asleep right now — an action in progress: the Present Continuous, is sleeping.
Question 21.
I (blank) three cups of coffee today, and it’s only 10 am!
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Today isn’t over yet, and “three cups” is the result so far: the Present Perfect, have drunk.
Question 22.
My brother (blank) meat. He’s a vegetarian.
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A permanent fact about someone takes the Present Simple. The negative with he: doesn’t + base verb, doesn’t eat.
Question 23.
(blank) you ever been to London?
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Ever + been (V3) asks about experience: the Present Perfect, Have you ever been…? Did and Are don’t go with been.
Question 24.
How long (blank) English? — For about two years.
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How long…? about an action that started in the past and is still going on: the Present Perfect Continuous, have you been learning.
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Take the level testEnglish present tenses: the rule
Many languages have one present tense. English has four, and each answers its own question.
Present Simple — regularly, always
Habits, facts about yourself, laws of nature, timetables. Form: base verb, with he / she / it add -s; questions and negatives use do / does.
I work in an office.
a permanent situation
The shop opens at 9.
a timetable
Present Continuous — right now
In progress at the moment of speaking or temporarily “these days”. Form: am / is / are + -ing. State verbs (know, like, want) aren’t used in the continuous.
I’m working on a new project this week.
a temporary situation
Look! The baby is sleeping.
happening right now
Present Perfect — result and experience
No time is given: what matters is the situation now. Form: have / has + V3. Markers: ever, never, already, yet, just; with for / since for state verbs.
I’ve finished the report.
It’s ready now
Have you ever been to Italy?
life experience
Present Perfect Continuous — how long
Started in the past and still going on (or just stopped, with visible results). Form: have / has been + -ing.
I’ve been working here for three years.
and I still work here
You look tired. Have you been running?
visible result of a recent activity
- Read more: Present Simple
- Read more: Present Continuous
- Read more: Present Perfect
- Read more: Present Perfect Continuous
Typical mistakes
Things learners of English often say. On the left — what to avoid, on the right — the correct version.
Not this:
I work here since 2020.This: I have been working here since 2020.
Since / for + “up to now” takes the perfect, not the Present Simple.
Not this:
I am knowing him for years.This: I have known him for years.
Know is a state verb: Present Perfect, no continuous.
Not this:
Look! He comes.This: Look! He’s coming.
Look! means right now: Present Continuous.
Not this:
I have finished it yesterday.This: I finished it yesterday.
Yesterday takes the Past Simple, not the Present Perfect.
FAQ
Didn’t find your answer? Send us a request — we’ll tell you everything.
How many present tenses are there in English?
Four: the Present Simple (I work), Present Continuous (I’m working), Present Perfect (I’ve worked) and Present Perfect Continuous (I’ve been working). Each answers its own question: how often? what’s happening now? what’s the result? how long?
What’s the difference between the Present Perfect and the Present Perfect Continuous?
The Present Perfect is about the result: I’ve written three emails (three are done). The Present Perfect Continuous is about the activity and its length: I’ve been writing emails all morning (maybe not finished yet). State verbs (know, have meaning “own”, be) take only the Present Perfect.
Why is the Present Perfect a present tense if the action is in the past?
Because it connects the past with now: the result or the experience at this moment is what matters. That’s why the auxiliary have / has is in the present. When it matters when exactly something happened, use the Past Simple.
Where can I go through the present tenses with a teacher?
At the Slay School grammar intensive “Present Tenses” on Zoom: 90 minutes of plain-language explanations, tense comparisons, typical mistakes and lots of practice. Details are on the Events page.
More grammar quizzes
- A1
There is / there are
There is or there are: singular, plural, questions and the past.
- A1–A2
Present Simple vs Present Continuous
I work or I’m working: habits and facts vs what’s happening right now.
- A1–B1
Articles a, an, the
A, an, the or no article: from a / an to countries, rivers and mountains.
- A1–A2
Much, many, a lot of
Much or many, a few or a little: countable and uncountable nouns.
- A1–A2
Prepositions in, on, at
In May, on Monday, at 5 o’clock: prepositions of time and place.
- A1–A2
Comparatives and superlatives
Bigger, the biggest, more interesting: rules and exceptions.
- A1–A2
Question forms
Do / does / did, word order, subject questions and question tags.
- A2–B1
Present Perfect vs Past Simple
I have seen or I saw: experience and results vs the finished past.
- A2–B1
Will vs going to
A decision now or an earlier plan: the future with will and going to.
- A2–B2
Modal verbs
Can, must, should, might: obligation, advice, possibility, deduction.
- A2–B2
Past tenses
Past Simple, Continuous, Perfect and Perfect Continuous: what happened, what was going on, what came first.
- A2–B2
Future tenses
Will, going to, Present Continuous, Future Continuous and Future Perfect: how to talk about the future.
- A2–B2
Passive voice
Be + past participle in every tense: is made, was built, has been sold.
- B1–B2
Gerund or infinitive
Enjoy doing, want to do, stop doing or stop to do.
- B1–B2
Conditionals
Zero, first, second, third and mixed: if I have, if I had, if I had had.
- B1–B2
I wish and if only
I wish I knew, I wish I had known, I wish you would stop.
- B1–B2
Reported speech
She said she was tired: tense changes, said or told, questions.
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