Present Tense Exercises

The present tense is used to describe events or actions that happen in the present time. It helps us talk about daily routines, ongoing activities, past actions that are still going on, and actions that continue over a period of time. Present tense exercises are useful for checking your understanding of these different forms and practising how to use them correctly in sentences.

Table of Contents: 

• What Is the Present Tense?
• Exercise 1 - Identify the Type of Present Tense
• Exercise 2 - Rewrite as Directed
• Exercise 3 - Fill in the Blanks
• Exercise 4 - Error Correction

What Is the Present Tense?

The present tense is used to describe actions or events that happen in the present time. It is used to talk about daily habits, routines, general facts, actions happening now, actions completed recently with present relevance, and actions that started in the past and are still going on. The present tense has four main types: simple present tense, present continuous tense, present perfect tense, and present perfect continuous tense. 

The structure and formula of the present tense are: 

Exercise 1 - Identify the Type of Present Tense 

Read the following sentences given below and identify the type of present tense used. 

1. He goes for a walk every evening. 

2. We follow the school rules strictly. 

3. The train arrives on time. 

4. She is cooking lunch in the kitchen.

5. They are practising for the annual function. 

6. I am listening to the teacher carefully. 

7. He has finished his work already. 

8. We have learned a new lesson today. 

9. She has just returned from school. 

10. The students have submitted their assignments. 

11. I have been studying English for three years. 

12. She has been waiting outside for a long time. 

13. He has been playing football all afternoon. 

14. They have been working on this project since Monday. 

15. The teacher is explaining the topic again. 

Answers: 

1. 1. Simple Present Tense

   2. Simple Present Tense

   3. Simple Present Tense

   4. Present Continuous Tense

   5. Present Continuous Tense

   6. Present Continuous Tense

   7. Present Perfect Tense

   8. Present Perfect Tense

   9. Present Perfect Tense

   10. Present Perfect Tense

   11. Present Perfect Continuous Tense

   12. Present Perfect Continuous Tense

   13. Present Perfect Continuous Tense

   14. Present Perfect Continuous Tense

   15. Present Continuous Tense
       
       

Exercise 2 - Rewrite as Directed

Rewrite the following sentences below into the form of the present tense given in the brackets. 

1. Riya plays the piano every day. (Present continuous tense)

2. The boys are running on the field. (present perfect tense)

3. I finish my homework before dinner. (present continuous tense)

4. She has cleaned her room. (present perfect continuous tense)

5. The baby is crying loudly. (present perfect continuous tense)

6. We have been studying for the test. (present continuous tense)

7. He teaches maths at our school. (present perfect tense)

8. The students discuss the topic in class. (present continuous tense)

9. She is practising dance these days. (present perfect continuous tense)

10. They have booked the tickets. (present continuous tense)

11. Meera waters the plants every morning. (present continuous tense)

12. The workers are repairing the road. (present perfect tense)

13. I attend online classes regularly. (present continuous tense)

14. He has repaired the bicycle. (present perfect continuous tense)

15. The children are shouting in the corridor. (present perfect tense)

16. We have been living in this city for years. (present continuous tense)

17. She teaches English to primary students. (present perfect tense)

18. The guard checks the gate every hour. (present continuous tense)

19. He is preparing for the entrance exam. (present perfect continuous tense)

20. They have organised the school event. (present continuous tense)

21. Aarav checks his email every morning. (present continuous tense)

22. The mechanic is fixing the engine. (present perfect tense)

23. We complete the syllabus before the exams. (present continuous tense)

24. She has decorated the classroom. (present perfect continuous tense)

25. The players are warming up on the ground. (present perfect tense)

26. I have been practising yoga for months. (present continuous tense)

27. The librarian issues books to students. (present perfect tense)

28. The chef prepares special dishes daily. (present continuous tense)

29. He is training for the marathon. (present perfect continuous tense)

30. They have planned a surprise party. (present continuous tense)

31. Ritu attends dance classes on weekends. (present continuous tense)

32. The electrician is checking the wiring. (present perfect tense)

33. We follow traffic rules strictly. (present continuous tense)

34. She has arranged the files neatly. (present perfect continuous tense)

35. The birds are building a nest. (present perfect tense)

36. I have been learning Spanish recently. (present continuous tense)

37. The farmer grows vegetables on his farm. (present perfect tense)

38. The teacher corrects the notebooks daily. (present continuous tense)

39. He is researching renewable energy. (present perfect continuous tense)

40. They have completed the registration process. (present continuous tense)

Answers: 

1. Riya is playing the piano every day.

2. The boys have run on the field.

3. I am finishing my homework before dinner.

4. She has been cleaning her room.

5. The baby has been crying loudly.

6. We are studying for the test.

7. He has taught maths at our school.

8. The students are discussing the topic in class.

9. She has been practising dance these days.

10. They are booking the tickets.

11. Meera is watering the plants every morning.

12. The workers have repaired the road.

13. I am attending online classes regularly.

14. He has been repairing the bicycle.

15. The children have shouted in the corridor.

16. We are living in this city.

17. She has taught English to primary students.

18. The guard is checking the gate every hour.

19. He has been preparing for the entrance exam.

20. They are organising the school event.

21. Aarav is checking his email every morning.

22. The mechanic has fixed the engine.

23. We are completing the syllabus before the exams.

24. She has been decorating the classroom.

25. The players have warmed up on the ground.

26. I am practising yoga.

27. The librarian has issued books to students.

28. The chef is preparing special dishes daily.

29. He has been training for the marathon.

30. They are planning a surprise party.

31. Ritu is attending dance classes on weekends.

32. The electrician has checked the wiring.

33. We are following traffic rules strictly.

34. She has been arranging the files neatly.

35. The birds have built a nest.

36. I am learning Spanish these days.

37. The farmer has grown vegetables on his farm.

38. The teacher is correcting the notebooks daily.

39. He has been researching renewable energy.

40. They are completing the registration process.
    
    

Exercise 3 - Fill in the Blanks 

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb given in brackets. Use the simple present, present continuous, present perfect, or present perfect continuous tense, wherever appropriate.

1. The teacher _______ (explain) the lesson at the moment. 

2. We ______ (visit) our grandparents every summer.

3. She ______ (wait) for the bus for half an hour.

4. They ______ (complete) the assignment already.

5. Look! The dog ______ (run) across the road.

6. I ______ (know) this rule very well.

7. He ______ (work) in this company since last year.

8. The students ______ (prepare) for the test these days.

9. My brother ______ (play) badminton every evening.

10. She ______ (just/arrive) at the office.

11. It ______ (rain) heavily right now.

12. We ______ (learn) English grammar this term.

13. The shopkeeper ______ (open) the shop at 9 a.m. daily.

14. They ______ (clean) the classroom since morning.

15. I ______ (not/see) this movie yet. 

16. The principal ______ (address) the students in the assembly right now.

17. We ______ (follow) this timetable every day.

18. She ______ (practise) classical music for many years.

19. The children ______ (draw) pictures in the art room at present.

20. I ______ (not/understand) this sum clearly.

21. They ______ (build) the bridge since last year.

22. My uncle ______ (run) a grocery shop in the village.

23. Look! The kite ______ (fly) very high in the sky.

24. The players ______ (warm up) before the match begins.

25. She ______ (submit) her project already.

26. We ______ (revise) for the exam these days.

27. The bus ______ (arrive) at the stop at 7 a.m. daily.

28. He ______ (search) for his keys since morning.

29. The students ______ (listen) to the instructions carefully.

30. I ______ (never/try) ice skating before.

31. Mother ______ (prepare) snacks in the kitchen now.

32. They ______ (organise) cultural programmes every year.

33. The gardener ______ (water) the plants since dawn.

34. She ______ (belong) to a joint family.

35. The workers ______ (repair) the road at present.

36. We ______ (complete) three chapters so far.

37. The baby ______ (sleep) peacefully right now.

38. He ______ (teach) science in this school.

39. The train ______ (leave) the platform in a few minutes.

40. I ______ (wait) for your reply for a long time.

Answers: 

1. The teacher is explaining the lesson at the moment. 

2. We visit our grandparents every summer.

3. She has been waiting for the bus for half an hour.

4. They have completed the assignment already.

5. Look! The dog is running across the road.

6. I know this rule very well.

7. He has been working in this company since last year.

8. The students are preparing for the test these days.

9. My brother plays badminton every evening.

10. She has just arrived at the office.

11. It is raining heavily right now.

12. We are learning English grammar this term.

13. The shopkeeper opens the shop at 9 a.m. daily.

14. They have been cleaning the classroom since morning.

15. I have not seen this movie yet.

16. The principal is addressing the students in the assembly right now.

17. We follow this timetable every day.

18. She has been practising classical music for many years.

19. The children are drawing pictures in the art room at present.

20. I do not understand this sum clearly.

21. They have been building the bridge since last year.

22. My uncle runs a grocery shop in the village.

23. Look! The kite is flying very high in the sky.

24. The players are warming up before the match begins.

25. She has submitted her project already.

26. We are revising for the exam these days.

27. The bus arrives at the stop at 7 a.m. daily.

28. He has been searching for his keys since morning.

29. The students are listening to the instructions carefully.

30. I have never tried ice skating before.

31. Mother is preparing snacks in the kitchen now.

32. They organise cultural programmes every year.

33. The gardener has been watering the plants since dawn.

34. She belongs to a joint family.

35. The workers are repairing the road at present.

36. We have completed three chapters so far.

37. The baby is sleeping peacefully right now.

38. He teaches science in this school.

39. The train is leaving the platform in a few minutes.

40. I have been waiting for your reply for a long time.
    
    

Exercise 4 - Error Correction

Read the following sentences carefully. Identify the error and rewrite the sentence correctly. 

1. She are reading a novel right now.

2. He play cricket after school.

3. We has completed the assignment.

4. I am understanding the lesson now.

5. They is waiting for the bus.

6. My brother do his homework in the evening.

7. The teacher explain the topic clearly.

8. She have been study for two hours.

9. The children plays in the playground every day.

10. We are go to the market right now.

11. He has finish his lunch already.

12. I am belong to this group.

13. They has been working here since 2022.

14. The dog are barking loudly.

15. She don’t like spicy food. 

16. She don’t understand the question.

17. He are playing football right now.

18. We has finished our work.

19. I am agree with your idea.

20. They goes to school by bus.

21. The baby cry loudly at night.

22. She is knowing the answer.

23. My father cook dinner every Sunday.

24. We are wait for the teacher.

25. He have written the letter just now.

26. The students is listening carefully.

27. I am belong to this class.

28. They has been play cricket since morning.

29. She don’t likes ice cream.

30. The train are arriving late today.

31. He teach maths in our school.

32. We is following the rules.

33. She have been working here since 2020.

34. I do not understanding this chapter.

35. The children is making noise outside.

36. He has complete his project.

37. They are goes to the temple every day.

38. She write emails every morning.

39. We has been waiting for an hour.

40. The dog chasing the cat right now.

Answers: 

1. She is reading a novel right now.

2. He plays cricket after school.

3. We have completed the assignment.

4. I understand the lesson now.

5. They are waiting for the bus.

6. My brother does his homework in the evening.

7. The teacher explains the topic clearly.

8. She has been studying for two hours.

9. The children play in the playground every day.

10. We are going to the market right now.

11. He has finished his lunch already.

12. I belong to this group.

13. They have been working here since 2022.

14. The dog is barking loudly.

15. She does not like spicy food.

16. She does not understand the question.

17. He is playing football right now.

18. We have finished our work.

19. I agree with your idea.

20. They go to school by bus.

21. The baby cries loudly at night.

22. She knows the answer.

23. My father cooks dinner every Sunday.

24. We are waiting for the teacher.

25. He has written the letter just now.

26. The students are listening carefully.

27. I belong to this class.

28. They have been playing cricket since morning.

29. She does not like ice cream.

30. The train is arriving late today.

31. He teaches maths in our school.

32. We are following the rules.

33. She has been working here since 2020.

34. I do not understand this chapter.

35. The children are making noise outside.

36. He has completed his project.

37. They go to the temple every day.

38. She writes emails every morning.

39. We have been waiting for an hour.

40. The dog is chasing the cat right now.