Intermediate Present Continuous. 45 questions on temporary states, changing trends, and non-continuous verbs.
What this test covers
- Temporary Situations
- Changing Trends
- Non-Continuous Verbs
Answer the 45 questions below. Each answer is checked straight away, with an explanation. Press Submit at the end to get your score and save it to your dashboard. Answers are not kept if you leave before submitting.
All 45 questions with answers
Pick an answer for each question to see if you are right, with the explanation. Submit when you are done; you can submit before answering them all.
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Q1I ___ with my aunt for a few weeks while my apartment is being painted.
Answer: A. am staying
Use the Present Continuous for temporary situations happening around the present. The context 'while my apartment is being painted' indicates this is a short-term arrangement, not a permanent routine.
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Q2Currently, they ___ on a temporary contract at the local library.
Answer: D. are working
The adverb 'Currently' and the phrase 'temporary contract' are context clues that this is a temporary state. We use the Present Continuous ('are working') for activities that are not permanent.
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Q3He ___ from home this week because of the train strike.
Answer: D. is working
The time expression 'this week' indicates a temporary situation. The Present Continuous ('is working') is used here to describe a temporary deviation from his normal routine of working at the office, caused by the strike.
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Q4My sister ___ in London for a month to complete a training course.
Answer: D. is living
We use the Present Continuous for temporary states. Even though living somewhere can be long-term, the specific duration 'for a month' signals that this is a temporary arrangement.
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Q5___ you ___ in the guest room while the builders are here?
Answer: C. Are / staying
This question asks about a temporary living arrangement. The clause 'while the builders are here' provides the context clue that this is not a permanent state, making the Present Continuous 'Are staying' the correct choice.
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Q6We ___ a hotel until our new house is ready to move into.
Answer: A. are using
The word 'until' indicates that this situation is temporary and will end soon. For situations with a limited duration like this, the Present Continuous ('are using') is the correct tense.
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Q7I ___ at the cafe until next Friday, then I start my new job.
Answer: A. am working
The Present Continuous describes a temporary work situation that has a clear end point ('until next Friday'). The Present Simple 'work' would suggest a permanent job, which contradicts the context.
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Q8Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Answer: D. I am working at the cafe until next Friday.
The Present Continuous 'am working' is the correct tense for a temporary situation. 'I have worked' and 'worked' don't fit the future time marker 'until next Friday,' and 'I working' is missing the helper word 'am'.
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Q9Identify the correct sentence.
Answer: C. They are renting a flat while they look for a house.
'Are renting' correctly uses the Present Continuous for a temporary action. The other options are incorrect because 'She studying' lacks a helper word like 'is', 'am take' uses the base form instead of -ing, and 'is live' should be 'is living'.
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Q10Although he usually walks, he ___ the train this month.
Answer: C. is taking
The marker 'usually' describes a permanent habit (Present Simple), but 'this month' indicates a temporary change. We use the Present Continuous 'is taking' to highlight this temporary deviation.
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Q11___ your brother ___ with you at the moment?
Answer: A. Is / living
The phrase 'at the moment' is a context clue for the Present Continuous. It asks about a temporary state happening right now, so 'Is living' is correct.
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Q12They ___ in a hostel while they are traveling through Europe this summer.
Answer: C. are staying
The context 'this summer' and 'while they are traveling' indicates a temporary state during a specific period. The Present Continuous 'are staying' is used for actions in progress over a limited time.
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Q13Choose the sentence that best describes a temporary arrangement.
Answer: A. They are staying in a hostel while they travel.
To emphasize that an action is temporary and happening around a specific time, we use the Present Continuous ('are staying'). The Present Simple 'stay' implies a permanent or habitual fact.
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Q14Identify the correct sentence.
Answer: C. He usually eats at home, but he is eating at work today.
This sentence correctly contrasts a general habit ('usually eats') with a temporary action happening 'today' ('is eating'). The Present Simple is used for the habit, and the Present Continuous for the exception.
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Q15Since the office is closed, we ___ from the coffee shop.
Answer: B. are working
Working from the coffee shop is a temporary reaction to the office being closed. The Present Continuous ('are working') is the best choice to describe this current, non-permanent activity.
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Q16Prices for basic goods ___ every single day.
Answer: A. are rising
We use the Present Continuous to describe trends and situations that are changing or developing over time. 'Are rising' shows that the price increase is an ongoing process.
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Q17The climate ___ faster than we ever predicted.
Answer: A. is changing
The Present Continuous ('is changing') is used here to describe a trend or a gradual development happening in the world. It emphasizes that the process is currently in progress. 'Was changing' is past continuous and cannot describe an ongoing present trend.
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Q18You ___ constantly ___ your keys! It's so frustrating.
Answer: A. are / losing
When the Present Continuous is used with adverbs like 'constantly' or 'always,' it expresses a repeated action that is often annoying for the speaker.
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Q19Technology ___ the way we communicate with each other.
Answer: C. is transforming
This sentence describes a current, ongoing trend. The Present Continuous ('is transforming') is used for processes of change that are happening in the present period. 'Was transforming' is past continuous and describes a past process, not a current one.
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Q20She is always ___ about the weather, even when it's sunny.
Answer: A. complaining
The structure 'be + always + -ing' ('is always complaining') is used to describe a habit that is frequent and often annoying. 'Always' is placed between the helper word and the main action word.
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Q21Which sentence expresses an annoying habit?
Answer: B. He is always arriving late to meetings.
The combination of 'is', 'always', and the -ing form ('arriving') specifically targets annoying habits. 'He always arrive' is grammatically incorrect (missing -s), and 'He always arrives' is a neutral statement of fact.
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Q22The number of students in this class ___ every year.
Answer: A. is increasing
Trends and developments that are currently happening, such as a change in numbers, are expressed using the Present Continuous ('is increasing'). 'Was increasing' is past continuous and describes a past trend, not a current one.
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Q23Identify the correct sentence.
Answer: D. She is always helping her friends.
While the 'be + always + -ing' structure often describes annoying habits, it can also describe positive repeated actions like 'helping'. Other options are incorrect: 'get' should be 'is getting' and 'make' should be 'making'.
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Q24Why ___ you always ___ your phone during dinner? It's so annoying!
Answer: C. are / checking
The speaker is complaining about an annoying habit. This is a classic use of the Present Continuous with 'always' ('are checking'). The word 'annoying' is a clear context clue.
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Q25The standard of living in this country ___ rapidly.
Answer: B. is improving
'Rapidly' suggests a process of change. The Present Continuous ('is improving') is used to describe a trend or a situation that is currently developing. 'Was improving' is past continuous and describes a past development, not a current one.
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Q26Interest in local art ___ rapidly these days.
Answer: A. is growing
The phrase 'these days' combined with 'rapidly' signals an ongoing trend. We use the Present Continuous ('is growing') to describe these evolving situations.
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Q27He is forever ___ his homework at the last minute.
Answer: D. forgetting
The word 'forever' combined with the helper word 'is' indicates a frequent, usually annoying habit. This structure requires the Present Continuous form ('forgetting').
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Q28Identify the correct sentence.
Answer: C. They are constantly arguing about money.
To describe a repeated, annoying action, we use the Present Continuous ('are... arguing') with an adverb like 'constantly'. 'Arguing' is the correct -ing form; 'argue' is a base form and cannot follow 'are'.
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Q29The popularity of electric cars ___.
Answer: C. is spreading
This describes a current social trend. The Present Continuous ('is spreading') is used for developments happening right now. 'Was spreading' is past continuous and cannot describe an ongoing current trend.
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Q30I ___ what you mean, but I don't agree.
Answer: B. understand
'Understand' describes a state of mind rather than an action. Verbs describing states are usually used in the Present Simple, not the Present Continuous.
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Q31She ___ that she is the best candidate for the job.
Answer: C. believes
'Believe' represents an opinion or mental state. It is not used in the continuous form, so 'is believing' is incorrect. Use the Present Simple 'believes'.
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Q32This bag ___ to my sister, not to me.
Answer: B. belongs
'Belong' expresses possession. We do not use it in the Present Continuous ('is belonging'). Use the Present Simple 'belongs' for states that are true now.
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Q33I ___ a new laptop because mine is broken.
Answer: A. need
'Need' describes a state. Even though the need is happening right now, we use the Present Simple instead of the Present Continuous ('am needing').
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Q34Identify the correct sentence.
Answer: B. They own a large house.
'Own' describes possession. Other options are incorrect because 'love', 'know', and 'hate' also describe states and are typically not used in the continuous form.
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Q35Choose the correct sentence.
Answer: D. This soup contains too much salt.
'Contain' describes the composition of something. It is not used in the continuous form ('is containing'). Use the Present Simple.
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Q36We ___ to go to the cinema tonight.
Answer: B. want
'Want' expresses a desire. Desires are treated as states, not actions, so we use the Present Simple 'want' rather than the continuous 'are wanting'.
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Q37Identify the correct sentence.
Answer: D. I remember your face from last year.
'Remember' is related to memory. Verbs describing states are not used in the continuous form ('am remembering'), making the Present Simple 'remember' the correct choice.
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Q38She ___ that this is the right decision.
Answer: C. seems
'Seem' describes an appearance or impression. Verbs describing states are almost always used in the Present Simple rather than the continuous ('is seeming').
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Q39Identify the correct sentence.
Answer: A. Do you prefer tea or coffee?
'Prefer' describes a liking. In questions, we use 'Do you...' with the Present Simple for verbs describing states, not 'Are you...ing'.
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Q40I ___ that chocolate is the best flavor.
Answer: C. think
When 'think' means 'to have an opinion,' it describes a state and uses the Present Simple. If it meant 'to consider' (a mental process), the continuous could be used, but this is clearly an opinion.
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Q41The painting ___ a beautiful landscape.
Answer: D. resembles
'Resemble' means to look like something. Since it describes a state rather than an action, it cannot be used in the continuous form ('is resembling').
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Q42Identify the correct sentence.
Answer: A. He possesses a rare coin.
'Possess' indicates ownership. Like 'own' or 'have', it is used in the Present Simple, even if referring to the present moment. 'Is possessing' is incorrect.
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Q43She ___ a promotion after all her hard work.
Answer: C. deserves
'Deserve' describes a state of being worthy of something, not an action in progress, so it is used in the Present Simple rather than the continuous.
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Q44I ___ the truth about what happened.
Answer: B. know
'Know' relates to mental knowledge. It is not used in the continuous form ('am knowing'). Use the Present Simple 'know'.
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Q45I ___ the effort you put into this project.
Answer: B. appreciate
'Appreciate' expresses a feeling. It does not use the continuous form ('am appreciating'). The Present Simple 'appreciate' is correct for expressing this feeling now.
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