When it comes to Cambridge examinations or any other official English tests, a sound grammar literacy is pivotal. Grammar control is the basis for all candidates’ success.
Even though learners are on cloud nine to find out that there are no grammar tasks in the English official examinations, they will soon realize that grammar is omnipresent. Be it reading, writing, listening, or speaking assessment, we cannot do without grammar.
Take for instance the open cloze exam task in all the Cambridge exams as from A2 to C2. Check below the exact part in the exam:
- YLE A2 Flyers, Reading and Writing Paper, Part 6
- A2 Key, Reading and Writing Paper, Part 5
- B1 Preliminary, Reading Paper, Part 6
- B2 First, Reading and Use of English Paper, Part 2
- C1 Advanced, Reading and Use of English, Part 2
- C2 Proficiency, Reading and Use of English, Part 2
The open cloze task is second to none in terms of difficulty because the missing words, for the most part, have to do with grammar. The missing text particles are function words. These include articles, auxiliary verbs, conjunctions, modal verbs, prepositions, pronouns. They are all grammar gems.
Find out more about function words in our article What About Function Words?, where we have extensively looked into what type of words they are. Try and do the tasks we have prepared for you, and see which level you can confidently get to.
So, it goes without saying that the better English learners’ knowledge of grammar is at such levels like B1 (Preliminary), the higher the chances are to take exams like B2 (First) or C1 (Advanced) with flying colours.
In case your B1 grammar is getting rusty, brush up on it with the two activities we have prepared for you this time.
So, let us start with the basics.

B1 GRAMMAR
PRESENT SIMPLE OR PRESENT CONTINUOUS?
Read the cases below and decide which tense must be used, present simple or present continuous. Check your answer by clicking and unveiling the correct answer.
What do we use:
Present continuous
Usually with “ALWAYS”.
Present continuous
Present continuous
AT THIS MOMENT, CURRENTLY, RIGHT NOW
Present simple
HAVE, OWN, POSSESS
Present simple
MEAN
Present simple
SMELL, SEE, FEEL, TASTE, HEAR
Present simple
BELIEVE, KNOW, REMEMBER, THINK, UNDERSTAND
Present continuous
THIS WEEK, THIS YEAR
Present simple
LIKE, LOVE, HATE, NEED, PREFER, WISH
Present simple
APPEAR, LOOK, SEEM, SOUND
Present simple
ALWAYS, USUALLY, FREQUENTLY, OFTEN, SOMETIMES, OCCASIONALLY, NOW AND THEN, RARELY, SELDOM, HARDLY EVER, NEVER, TWICE (a week, a month), ONCE IN A BLUE MOON
Present simple
WEIGH
Present continuous
Present simple
Present continuous
HAVE (breakfast), SMELL (a flower), TASTE (the soup), THINK, SEE (the doctor) (=to visit), WEIGH (the suitcase) (=to measure the heaviness)

Present simple and present continuous quiz
Read the sentences and choose the right present tense, simple or continuous.
There are 12 questions in each exercise.
Exercise ONE
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- Current
- Review
- Answered
- Correct
- Incorrect
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Question 1 of 12
1. Question
You | the telephone. I can’t call anyone.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 2 of 12
2. Question
They | a house on the sea coast.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 3 of 12
3. Question
I | you are completely right.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 4 of 12
4. Question
I | about what you told me yesterday.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 5 of 12
5. Question
My English | better and better every day.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 6 of 12
6. Question
It | like smoke in here.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 7 of 12
7. Question
As I have just started a Japanese course, I | much at the moment.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 8 of 12
8. Question
I | my grandparents in the countryside for the summer holidays.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 9 of 12
9. Question
In this photo, my granny | the flowers in the garden.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 10 of 12
10. Question
Sorry, I | you.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 11 of 12
11. Question
The word “handsome” | good-looking.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 12 of 12
12. Question
This ice-cream | like strawberry.
CorrectIncorrect
Exercise TWO
Quiz Summary
0 of 12 Questions completed
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You must first complete the following:
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Results
0 of 12 Questions answered correctly
Your time:
Time has elapsed
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Earned Point(s): 0 of 0, (0)
0 Essay(s) Pending (Possible Point(s): 0)
Categories
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- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- Current
- Review
- Answered
- Correct
- Incorrect
-
Question 1 of 12
1. Question
I am busy these days because I | my room.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 2 of 12
2. Question
I | like going running today.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 3 of 12
3. Question
My little brother | very naughty these days.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 4 of 12
4. Question
I think you | yourself these days at school.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 5 of 12
5. Question
I | myself to see if I haven’t put on weight.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 6 of 12
6. Question
Every weekend we | weekend trips to Paris.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 7 of 12
7. Question
Currently, they | a new full-time course with well-qualified teachers.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 8 of 12
8. Question
This term we | about the Romans in history.
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Question 9 of 12
9. Question
We can’t talk now. I | lunch.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 10 of 12
10. Question
These days, my best friend | the doctor.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 11 of 12
11. Question
What | about our plan for the weekend?
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 12 of 12
12. Question
We have missed the bus! That | we will have to go on foot.
CorrectIncorrect
As you have seen, there is way more to consider when using present simple or present continuous, isn’t it? Present simple refers not only to our routine. Present continuous (or progressive), likewise, expresses not only actions we are doing right now, at this moment. There are a lot of details learners of English must know when it comes to these simple at first sight tenses.
We really hope you have started to brush up on your knowledge of B1 grammar after having done the activities we have prepared for you on present simple and present continuous. If you have got there, let’s call it a day!
Stay tuned for more words of advice and handy material!