Present Tense Exercises

What is the present tense? It includes all tense forms that depict an action/event that happens in the present. Find out how well you know the simple present, present continuous, present perfect and present perfect continuous tenses by working out the present tense exercises given in the article.

Present Tense Exercises with Answers

Complete the following exercises and check your answers to see if you have got it all right.

Exercise 1 – Identify the type of present tense

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

1. The flight takes off at 5:30 p.m.
2. Amy drinks coffee every morning.
3. Ira is reading Sherlock Holmes.
4. The team is playing quite well.
5. Sam has just gone out.
6. I have known Riya for a long time.
7. I am writing a new story.
8. The child has been watching television for hours.
9. They have been shopping for days.
10. Asif has eaten all the cookies.
11. I have finished all my chores.
12. It rains almost every day in October.
13. My uncle is arriving today.
14. I have hurt my knee.
15. The workers have been building the tower for several months.

Answers for Exercise 1

1. Simple Present Tense
2. Simple Present Tense
3. Present Continuous Tense
4. Present Continuous Tense
5. Present Perfect Tense
6. Present Perfect Tense
7. Present Continuous Tense
8. Present Perfect Continuous Tense
9. Present Perfect Continuous Tense
10. Present Perfect Tense
11. Present Perfect Tense
12. Simple Present Tense
13. Present Continuous Tense
14. Present Perfect Tense
15. Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Exercise 2 – Rewrite as directed

Change the following sentences into different forms of the present tense given in brackets.

1. The sun had been shining brightly since morning. (present perfect continuous tense)
2. Gopal has eaten all the butter. (present continuous tense)
3. The artist mixes the colours. (present continuous tense)
4. Jack is painting the wall. (present perfect continuous tense)
5. The ship sailed yesterday. (simple present tense)
6. We were watching TV. (present continuous tense)
7. The headmaster wanted to speak to you. (simple present tense)
8. Ross ate all the chocolates. (simple present tense)
9. We were waiting for the lecture from 4:30 P.M. (present perfect continuous tense)
10. Joey just went out. (present perfect tense)

Answers for Exercise 2

1. The sun has been shining brightly since morning.
2. Gopal is eating all the butter.
3. The artist is mixing the colours.
4. Jack has been painting the wall.
5. The ship sails today.
6. We are watching TV.
7. The headmaster wants to speak to you.
8. Ross eats all the chocolates.
9. We have been waiting for the lecture from 4:30 P.M.
10. Joey has just gone out.