Read these panicked text messages about a missing pet. Select ALL the sentences that correctly apply the present forms of the verb "to be".

The correct answers are I am freaking out right now!, My roommate's iguana is missing., and They are incredibly fast for reptiles!

I pairs with am.

My roommate's iguana (it) pairs with is.

They pairs with are.

The incorrect sentences should be "He is usually hiding" and "We are going to be".

To ChallengesPrevious

Be

Be vs have vs do: all three serve as auxiliaries, but be builds progressives (is running) and passives (was broken); have builds perfects (has gone); do builds negatives and questions (do you, doesn't, did). Only be also works as a main verb (copula: She is a doctor).

The verb be = 8 forms, most irregular English verb. Copula (links subject to complement) + auxiliary for progressive/passive.

Diagnostic: is be followed by an -ing form? → progressive auxiliary. Past participle? → passive auxiliary. Adjective/noun/prepositional phrase? → copula (main verb).

Present tense

Simple present vs present progressive: simple present = habits, routines, permanent facts (I work here). Present progressive = right now, temporary, changing (I'm working from home today). The most common confusion: using progressive for habits (I'm working here ❌ for permanent job) or simple for right-now (I work now ❌ for current activity).

The present tense has four forms: simple, progressive, perfect, perfect progressive — each relating the action to "now" differently.

Diagnostic: is it a habit/permanent fact? → simple. Happening right now? → progressive. Started in past but still relevant? → perfect. Ongoing duration up to now? → perfect progressive.

English Grammar Basics

Basics vs intermediate/advanced grammar: if you're unsure whether to study articles or conditionals, tense basics or reported speech — you need to check whether your foundations are solid first. Basics covers everything up to A2.

English Grammar Basics groups the core building blocks: nouns, verbs, adjectives, prepositions, present/past tenses, questions, and negation.

Diagnostic: if you still hesitate over she don't vs she doesn't, or a vs an — start here. Master these and intermediate topics stop feeling random.

A1 | Elementary | Beginners

A1 vs A2: A1 covers isolated survival phrases (Where is…?, I am…, How much?). A2 handles connected sentences about familiar routines and simple past events. If you can manage short fixed phrases but not string together original sentences about your day, you're still A1.

A1 is the entry level of the CEFR: greetings, introductions, numbers, basic present tense, and core function words.

Diagnostic: can you describe yesterday using past tense? No → A1. Yes → you're moving into A2.

Easy

Easy vs Medium vs Hard: Easy = one rule, obvious answer, A1A2. Medium = one rule but realistic distractors, A2B1. Hard = interacting rules, edge cases, B2+. Start Easy to check you have the basics before moving up.

The Easy tag filters for single-rule, short-sentence, common-vocabulary challenges designed for beginners or for anyone wanting a confidence check on fundamentals.

Diagnostic: if you get Easy questions wrong, stay here — your foundations need work. If they feel trivial, move to Medium.