Simple Present & Present Continuous Quiz | Intermediate Level | 20 Questions & Answers with Explanations
20 questions
This intermediate-level quiz builds on Simple Present and Present Continuous by expanding the stative verb list beyond the most obvious examples (know, want, have) into less commonly tested ones (belong, consist, contain, appear, seem), and by testing longer sentences where the "-ing" temptation is stronger. This topic is consistently tested in SSC CGL, IBPS PO, Railways, Bank Clerk, and State PSC exams, often through error-spotting formats. At this level, the key concepts tested are: recognising stative verbs even when they don't obviously describe "knowing" or "wanting," applying the third-person singular rule confidently in longer, more formal sentences, and distinguishing present continuous for confirmed future plans from simple present for scheduled/timetabled events. Before you attempt this quiz, read through the Tenses — it'll make these questions much easier to crack. At this stage, the goal is to stop relying on the five or six most obvious stative verbs and start recognising the full pattern.
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Q1
This box ___ old photographs and letters.
View solution & Explanation
Correct Answer contains
"Contain" is a stative verb describing what's inside something, never taking "-ing," and needs the "-s" ending for the singular subject "box."
Correct sentence: "This box contains old photographs and letters."
Memory hook: "contain," like "consist" and "belong," describes a fixed state, not an ongoing action.
Correct sentence: "This box contains old photographs and letters."
Memory hook: "contain," like "consist" and "belong," describes a fixed state, not an ongoing action.
Q2
This property ___ to my grandfather.
View solution & Explanation
Correct Answer belongs
"Belong" is stative, describing ownership, and never takes "-ing."
Correct sentence: "This property belongs to my grandfather."
Memory hook: "belong to" is a fixed stative phrase — add it to your growing list.
Correct sentence: "This property belongs to my grandfather."
Memory hook: "belong to" is a fixed stative phrase — add it to your growing list.
Q3
The committee ___ of five members.
View solution & Explanation
Correct Answer consists
"Consist" is stative, describing composition, and never takes "-ing."
Correct sentence: "The committee consists of five members."
Memory hook: "consist of" is another fixed stative phrase describing what something is made up of.
Correct sentence: "The committee consists of five members."
Memory hook: "consist of" is another fixed stative phrase describing what something is made up of.
Q4
He ___ tired after the long journey.
View solution & Explanation
Correct Answer seems
"Seem" is stative, describing an impression/state, never taking "-ing."
Correct sentence: "He seems tired after the long journey."
Memory hook: "seem" and "appear," when describing a state or impression, are always simple present, never continuous.
Correct sentence: "He seems tired after the long journey."
Memory hook: "seem" and "appear," when describing a state or impression, are always simple present, never continuous.
Q5
This word ___ "hope" in English.
View solution & Explanation
Correct Answer means
"Mean" is stative, describing definition/meaning, never taking "-ing."
Correct sentence: "This word means 'hope' in English."
Memory hook: "mean," in the sense of definition, is always stative and simple present.
Correct sentence: "This word means 'hope' in English."
Memory hook: "mean," in the sense of definition, is always stative and simple present.
Q6
She ___ to the same gym as I do.
View solution & Explanation
Correct Answer goes
A repeated, habitual fact takes simple present with the third-person "-es"... here "goes" is correct with third-person "-oes" pattern.
Correct sentence: "She goes to the same gym as I do."
Memory hook: habitual facts about routines always take simple present with correct third-person endings.
Correct sentence: "She goes to the same gym as I do."
Memory hook: habitual facts about routines always take simple present with correct third-person endings.
Q7
Spot the error: "I am meeting my manager tomorrow morning to is discuss the new project timeline."
View solution & Explanation
Correct Answer to is discuss
"To is discuss" is grammatically broken — an infinitive should be "to discuss," not combined with "is."
Correct sentence: "I am meeting my manager tomorrow morning to discuss the new project timeline."
Memory hook: infinitives ("to + base verb") never combine with "is/am/are" — this is a basic construction error unrelated to tense choice itself.
Correct sentence: "I am meeting my manager tomorrow morning to discuss the new project timeline."
Memory hook: infinitives ("to + base verb") never combine with "is/am/are" — this is a basic construction error unrelated to tense choice itself.
Q8
The 9 o'clock flight to Mumbai ___ from Gate 12 today.
View solution & Explanation
Correct Answer departs
A scheduled, timetabled event takes simple present, even though it refers to a specific future flight today.
Correct sentence: "The 9 o'clock flight to Mumbai departs from Gate 12 today."
Memory hook: flights, trains, and timetabled events always use simple present, regardless of "today" or "tomorrow."
Correct sentence: "The 9 o'clock flight to Mumbai departs from Gate 12 today."
Memory hook: flights, trains, and timetabled events always use simple present, regardless of "today" or "tomorrow."
Q9
She ___ to Kerala next week for a family function.
View solution & Explanation
Correct Answer is going
This describes a confirmed, arranged personal plan (not a fixed timetable), which takes present continuous for future arrangements.
Correct sentence: "She is going to Kerala next week for a family function."
Memory hook: personal plans and arrangements (not timetables) use present continuous for confirmed future events — "is going," not "goes."
Correct sentence: "She is going to Kerala next week for a family function."
Memory hook: personal plans and arrangements (not timetables) use present continuous for confirmed future events — "is going," not "goes."
Q10
He ___ that the proposal will succeed.
View solution & Explanation
Correct Answer believes
"Believe" is stative, describing an opinion/mental state, never taking "-ing."
Correct sentence: "He believes that the proposal will succeed."
Memory hook: "believe," like "think" (when expressing an opinion), is stative and always simple present.
Correct sentence: "He believes that the proposal will succeed."
Memory hook: "believe," like "think" (when expressing an opinion), is stative and always simple present.
Q11
This soup ___ delicious; you should try it.
View solution & Explanation
Correct Answer tastes
"Taste" describing a quality is stative, needing simple present with the "-s" ending for "soup."
Correct sentence: "This soup tastes delicious; you should try it."
Memory hook: reinforcing "taste" as stative when describing quality, not the act of tasting something.
Correct sentence: "This soup tastes delicious; you should try it."
Memory hook: reinforcing "taste" as stative when describing quality, not the act of tasting something.
Q12
He ___ his opinion on every topic, whether asked or not.
View solution & Explanation
Correct Answer is always giving
"Always" + an annoying, repeated habit takes present continuous, not simple present.
Correct sentence: "He is always giving his opinion on every topic, whether asked or not."
Memory hook: reinforcing the "always + present continuous = annoying habit" exception once more.
Correct sentence: "He is always giving his opinion on every topic, whether asked or not."
Memory hook: reinforcing the "always + present continuous = annoying habit" exception once more.
Q13
This perfume ___ wonderful.
View solution & Explanation
Correct Answer smells
"Smell" describing a quality is stative, needing the "-s" ending.
Correct sentence: "This perfume smells wonderful."
Memory hook: "smell," like "taste" and "look," is stative when describing a quality rather than the physical act of smelling something.
Correct sentence: "This perfume smells wonderful."
Memory hook: "smell," like "taste" and "look," is stative when describing a quality rather than the physical act of smelling something.
Q14
She ___ smelling the flowers in the garden right now.
View solution & Explanation
Correct Answer is
Here "smell" describes the physical action of actively sniffing something, which is NOT stative and correctly takes continuous form — the auxiliary needed is "is" to match "she."
Correct sentence: "She is smelling the flowers in the garden right now."
Memory hook: "smell," "taste," and "look" can be BOTH stative (describing a quality) and active (describing a deliberate action) — check whether the subject is doing something or simply "being" something.
Correct sentence: "She is smelling the flowers in the garden right now."
Memory hook: "smell," "taste," and "look" can be BOTH stative (describing a quality) and active (describing a deliberate action) — check whether the subject is doing something or simply "being" something.
Q15
The museum ___ every visitor a discount on Mondays.
View solution & Explanation
Correct Answer offers
A standing policy/general fact takes simple present with the "-s" ending.
Correct sentence: "The museum offers every visitor a discount on Mondays."
Memory hook: standing policies and general facts about institutions take simple present, not continuous.
Correct sentence: "The museum offers every visitor a discount on Mondays."
Memory hook: standing policies and general facts about institutions take simple present, not continuous.
Q16
The company's new policy ___ effect from next Monday.
View solution & Explanation
Correct Answer takes
"Takes effect from" describing a scheduled, official start date functions like a timetable, taking simple present.
Correct sentence: "The company's new policy takes effect from next Monday."
Memory hook: official start dates and effective dates for policies behave like timetables — simple present, even for future dates.
Correct sentence: "The company's new policy takes effect from next Monday."
Memory hook: official start dates and effective dates for policies behave like timetables — simple present, even for future dates.
Q17
He ___ what you're going through right now.
View solution & Explanation
Correct Answer understands
"Understand" is stative, describing a mental state, never taking "-ing."
Correct sentence: "He understands what you're going through right now."
Memory hook: reinforcing "understand" as a core stative verb, even when the surrounding sentence emphasises "right now."
Correct sentence: "He understands what you're going through right now."
Memory hook: reinforcing "understand" as a core stative verb, even when the surrounding sentence emphasises "right now."
Q18
Spot the error: "She is preferring tea to coffee every morning."
View solution & Explanation
Correct Answer She is preferring
"Prefer" is a stative verb and never takes "-ing" — "is preferring" is incorrect; it should be "prefers."
Correct sentence: "She prefers tea to coffee every morning."
Memory hook: "prefer," like "like," "love," and "hate," is a stative verb of preference — always simple present.
Correct sentence: "She prefers tea to coffee every morning."
Memory hook: "prefer," like "like," "love," and "hate," is a stative verb of preference — always simple present.
Q19
This recipe ___ four eggs and two cups of flour.
View solution & Explanation
Correct Answer requires
"Require" describing a fixed need is stative, taking the "-s" ending.
Correct sentence: "This recipe requires four eggs and two cups of flour."
Memory hook: "require" and "need" describing a fixed requirement are stative verbs.
Correct sentence: "This recipe requires four eggs and two cups of flour."
Memory hook: "require" and "need" describing a fixed requirement are stative verbs.
Q20
She ___ she made the right decision by resigning.
View solution & Explanation
Correct Answer does not doubt
"Doubt" is stative, and the negative form needs "does not" (third-person singular) + the base verb "doubt."
Correct sentence: "She does not doubt she made the right decision by resigning."
Memory hook: "doubt," like "believe" and "think" (opinion), is stative — negatives use "does not/do not + base verb," never "is not doubting."
Correct sentence: "She does not doubt she made the right decision by resigning."
Memory hook: "doubt," like "believe" and "think" (opinion), is stative — negatives use "does not/do not + base verb," never "is not doubting."
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