Present Tenses Exercise

Fill in the blanks with an appropriate present tense form.

1. My parents ……………………….. near Chennai.

live
are living
have lived

We use the simple present to talk about permanent situations.

2. I ……………………….. my parents twice a month.

visit
am visiting
have visited

The simple present tense is used to talk about things that happen regularly.

3. ‘What are you doing there?’ ‘I …………………………….. TV.’

watch
am watching
have watched

We use the present continuous tense to talk about actions or events that are going on
around now.

4. Watch carefully. First I …………………………. a cucumber and …………………………. it

into small pieces.

am taking, am cutting
take, cut
am taking, cut

We use the simple present tense to talk about a series of actions that are completed as we
speak.

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 Present Tenses Exercise

5. I will follow you wherever you ……………………………..

will go
are going
go

When the main verb is in the future tense, we use a simple present tense in the subordinate
clause.

6. I will call you if I ………………………… time.

get
am getting
have got

When the main verb is in the future tense, we use a simple present tense in the subordinate
clause.

7. What ………………………. snakes …………………….?

do, eat
are, eating
are, eat

The simple present tense is used to talk about permanent situations.

8. How ………………………… I ……………………… to the airport?

do, get
am, getting
do, getting

The simple present tense is used when we ask for and give directions.

9. I …………………………. this fragrance very much.

like

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 Present Tenses Exercise

am liking
have liked

The verb like is not normally used in the continuous form.

10. I will hit anybody who ………………………………. me names.

calls
is calling
has called

When the main verb is in the future tense, we use a simple present tense in the subordinate
clause to refer to the future.

11. Why …………………………. she ……………………….. on the table?

does, stand
is, standing
does, standing

The present continuous is usually used to talk about temporary situations

12. The temple …………………………. on a hill outside the town.

is standing
has stood
stands

The present simple is used to talk about permanent situations.

PLAY AGAIN !

Answers

1. My parents live near Chennai.

2. I visit my parents twice a month.
3. ‘What are you doing there?’ ‘I am watching TV.’

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 Present Tenses Exercise

4. Watch carefully. First I take a cucumber and cut it into small pieces.
5. I will follow you wherever you go.
6. I will call you if I get time.
7. What do snakes eat?
8. How do I get to the airport?
9. I like this fragrance very much.
10. I will hit anybody who calls me names.
11. Why is she standing on the table?
12. The temple stands on a hill outside the town.

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