Question 1

Below are sentences in the present tense. Select the present progressive tense (am, is, or are + -ing form of the main verb) for the blank.
-The panther stalks its prey. The panther ______________________ its prey.

Accepted Answer

The subject "panther" is singular, so we need to use "is" as the helping verb. The action is ongoing, so we need to use the present participle "stalking." Therefore, the correct sentence is "The panther is stalking its prey."

Question 2

Below are sentences in the present tense. Select the present progressive tense (am, is, or are + -ing form of the main verb) for the blank.
-The guests arrive soon. The guests _________________________________ soon.

Accepted Answer

The subject "guests" is third person plural, so we use "are" as the auxiliary verb in the present progressive tense. The correct sentence is "The guests are arriving soon."

Question 3

Below are sentences in the past tense. Select the past progressive tense (was or were + -ing form of the main verb) for the blank.
-We cleared a path to the beach. We _____________________________ a path to the beach.

Accepted Answer

The past progressive tense for "clearing" is "were clearing," indicating an ongoing action in the past.

Question 4

Select a form of the verb to be to complete the incomplete progressives in the sentences below. .
-By six o'clock, Myron knocking on everyone's door.

Accepted Answer

The subject "Myron" is singular, so the correct form of the verb to be is "was."

Question 5

Below are sentences in the past tense. Select the past progressive tense (was or were + -ing form of the main verb) for the blank.
-The commuters had donuts while waiting for the bus. The commuters ___________________________ donuts while they waited for the bus.

Accepted Answer

Since there are multiple commuters involved, the appropriate past progressive tense is "were having."

Question 6

Read each sentence carefully and select the letter of the correct form of the verb.
-I can't go to lunch now. I (write, am writing) my letter of application.

Accepted Answer

The sentence is in present continuous tense, indicating an action in progress at the moment of speaking. Therefore, the correct form of the verb to use is "am writing".

Question 7

Below are sentences in the present tense. Select the present progressive tense (am, is, or are + -ing form of the main verb) for the blank.
-I write my term paper. I __________________________________ my term paper.

Accepted Answer

The present progressive tense for "write" is "am writing". This shows an ongoing action in the present, indicating that the speaker is currently in the process of writing their term paper.

Question 8

Below are sentences in the past tense. Select the past progressive tense (was or were + -ing form of the main verb) for the blank.
-The audience clapped loudly. The audience ______________________________ loudly.

Accepted Answer

The past progressive tense uses "was" with a singular subject and "were" with a plural subject, and in this sentence, "audience" is a singular subject. Therefore, the correct option is "was clapping."

Question 9

Select a form of the verb to be to complete the incomplete progressives in the sentences below. .
-All day Sunday, he surfing the Web.

Accepted Answer

"He" is a singular subject, so the correct form of the verb to be is "was" to make it a past continuous tense sentence. The sentence should read "All day Sunday, he was surfing the Web."

Question 10

Below are sentences in the past tense. Select the past progressive tense (was or were + -ing form of the main verb) for the blank.
-I looked for my blue suede shoes. I ________________________________ for my blue suede shoes.

Accepted Answer

The sentence is in the past tense, and the action of "looking" was ongoing, which indicates the past continuous/progressive tense. Therefore, "was looking" is the appropriate choice. "Were looking" is not correct because it implies that multiple people were looking for the shoes, which is not stated in the original sentence.

Question 11

Select a form of the verb to be to complete the incomplete progressives in the sentences below. .
-I paying my dues on time for a change.

Accepted Answer

The correct form of the verb "to be" for the present continuous tense with the subject "I" is "am". Therefore, the correct sentence would be "I am paying my dues on time for a change."

Question 12

Below are sentences in the present tense. Select the present progressive tense (am, is, or are + -ing form of the main verb) for the blank.
-Perry sweeps the front walk. Perry ______________________________ the front walk.

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is "is sweeping" because we use the present progressive tense (am, is, or are + -ing) to talk about an action that is happening right now. In this sentence, Perry is currently sweeping the front walk, so we use "is sweeping." "Am sweeping" (A) is incorrect because "am" is not used with "Perry," and "are sweeping" (C) is incorrect because "Perry" is singular, and "are" is plural.

Question 13

Read each sentence carefully and select the letter of the correct form of the verb.
-I can't answer the phone now. I (wash, am washing) my hair.

Accepted Answer

The present continuous tense is used to describe an action that is happening right now, at the time of speaking. In this sentence, the person is currently washing their hair, so "am washing" is the correct form of the verb.

Question 14

Read each sentence carefully and select the letter of the correct form of the verb.
-Right now, Boyd (irons, is ironing) his shirts.

Accepted Answer

The use of "right now" indicates an action in progress at the moment, hence the present continuous tense "is ironing" is appropriate.

Question 15

Read each sentence carefully and select the letter of the correct form of the verb.
-Ponce de Leon (searched, was searching) for gold when he explored Florida in 1513.

Accepted Answer

The past continuous tense "was searching" is used to indicate an ongoing action in the past, which fits the context of Ponce de Leon's exploration.

Question 16

Read each sentence carefully and select the letter of the correct form of the verb.
-Esther paid for the jacket after she (tried, was trying) it on.

Accepted Answer

The past tense form "tried" is the correct choice for a completed action. "Was trying" suggests an ongoing action, which does not fit the context of the sentence.

Question 17

Select a form of the verb to be to complete the incomplete progressives in the sentences below. .
-Julia and Sarah shopping at Target when the lights went out.

Accepted Answer

The subject is "Julia and Sarah" which is plural, therefore the correct form of the verb to be in the progressive tense is "were".

Question 18

Below are sentences in the past tense. Select the past progressive tense (was or were + -ing form of the main verb) for the blank.
-The taxi driver shouted at the pedestrians. The taxi driver _________________________ at the pedestrians.

Accepted Answer

The correct past progressive tense for this sentence is "was shouting" because it indicates an action that was in progress in the past. "Were shouting" would be incorrect because "taxi driver" is singular and requires the singular form "was."

Question 19

Select a form of the verb to be to complete the incomplete progressives in the sentences below. .
-The guide calling to the other climbers, "I can see the top of the mountain."

Accepted Answer

The subject "guide" is singular, so the form of the verb "to be" that should be used is "was."

Question 20

Below are sentences in the present tense. Select the present progressive tense (am, is, or are + -ing form of the main verb) for the blank.
-The twins attend Boston College. The twins _________________________________ Boston College.

Accepted Answer

The subject "twins" is plural, so we need to use "are" as the auxiliary verb. And we need to use the present progressive tense with "attending" to indicate that the action is currently happening. Therefore, the correct sentence is "The twins are attending Boston College."

Quiz 14: Progressive Tenses to Be -Ing Verb Form

Below are sentences in the present tense. Select the present progressive tense (am, is, or are + -ing form of the main verb) for the blank. -The panther stalks its prey. The panther ______________________ its prey.

Below are sentences in the present tense. Select the present progressive tense (am, is, or are + -ing form of the main verb) for the blank. -The guests arrive soon. The guests _________________________________ soon.

Below are sentences in the past tense. Select the past progressive tense (was or were + -ing form of the main verb) for the blank. -We cleared a path to the beach. We _____________________________ a path to the beach.

Select a form of the verb to be to complete the incomplete progressives in the sentences below. . -By six o'clock, Myron knocking on everyone's door.

Below are sentences in the past tense. Select the past progressive tense (was or were + -ing form of the main verb) for the blank. -The commuters had donuts while waiting for the bus. The commuters ___________________________ donuts while they waited for the bus.

Read each sentence carefully and select the letter of the correct form of the verb. -I can't go to lunch now. I (write, am writing) my letter of application.

Below are sentences in the present tense. Select the present progressive tense (am, is, or are + -ing form of the main verb) for the blank. -I write my term paper. I __________________________________ my term paper.

Below are sentences in the past tense. Select the past progressive tense (was or were + -ing form of the main verb) for the blank. -The audience clapped loudly. The audience ______________________________ loudly.

Select a form of the verb to be to complete the incomplete progressives in the sentences below. . -All day Sunday, he surfing the Web.

Below are sentences in the past tense. Select the past progressive tense (was or were + -ing form of the main verb) for the blank. -I looked for my blue suede shoes. I ________________________________ for my blue suede shoes.

Select a form of the verb to be to complete the incomplete progressives in the sentences below. . -I paying my dues on time for a change.

Below are sentences in the present tense. Select the present progressive tense (am, is, or are + -ing form of the main verb) for the blank. -Perry sweeps the front walk. Perry ______________________________ the front walk.

Read each sentence carefully and select the letter of the correct form of the verb. -I can't answer the phone now. I (wash, am washing) my hair.

Read each sentence carefully and select the letter of the correct form of the verb. -Right now, Boyd (irons, is ironing) his shirts.

Read each sentence carefully and select the letter of the correct form of the verb. -Ponce de Leon (searched, was searching) for gold when he explored Florida in 1513.

Read each sentence carefully and select the letter of the correct form of the verb. -Esther paid for the jacket after she (tried, was trying) it on.

Select a form of the verb to be to complete the incomplete progressives in the sentences below. . -Julia and Sarah shopping at Target when the lights went out.

Below are sentences in the past tense. Select the past progressive tense (was or were + -ing form of the main verb) for the blank. -The taxi driver shouted at the pedestrians. The taxi driver _________________________ at the pedestrians.

Select a form of the verb to be to complete the incomplete progressives in the sentences below. . -The guide calling to the other climbers, "I can see the top of the mountain."

Below are sentences in the present tense. Select the present progressive tense (am, is, or are + -ing form of the main verb) for the blank. -The twins attend Boston College. The twins _________________________________ Boston College.