English learners often confuse giving and given because both come from the verb give, but they do different jobs in a sentence. The key difference is grammatical: giving is the present participle or gerund form of give, while given is the past participle. Knowing when to use each form makes your writing and speaking much clearer.
In this guide, you’ll learn the meanings, grammar rules, sentence patterns, and common mistakes involving giving vs. given. Whether you are a student, ESL learner, writer, or simply checking which word is correct, the examples below will help you choose the right form confidently.
Quick Answer
Giving is the -ing form of give and is used for an action that is happening, continuing, or functioning as a noun. Given is the past participle of give and is commonly used with have/has/had, in passive constructions, or to mean “considering” or “taking into account.”
Why Do People Confuse Giving and Given?
Both words come from the same verb:
- Give — base form
- Gave — simple past
- Given — past participle
- Giving — present participle/gerund
The confusion usually happens because giving and given can both refer to an act of providing something.
Compare:
- She is giving me a gift.
- She has given me a gift.
The first sentence describes an action in progress. The second describes an action that has already been completed.
What Does “Giving” Mean?
Giving is the present participle or gerund form of give.
It can describe an action happening now or around the present time:
He is giving a speech.
It can also function as a noun:
Giving to others can make a difference.
Common Uses of “Giving”
Giving is often used:
- After forms of be: is giving, was giving, are giving
- As a gerund: Giving is important.
- Before a noun in some expressions: giving nature
- In continuous verb forms: They are giving instructions.
What Does “Given” Mean?
Given is the past participle of give.
It is commonly used with auxiliary verbs:
She has given me the information.
They had given him enough time.
It is also used in passive constructions:
The award was given to Sarah.
Additionally, given can function as a preposition meaning considering or taking into account:
Given the circumstances, we decided to leave.
In this use, given does not simply mean “gave in the past.”
Giving vs. Given: Comparison Table
| Feature | Giving | Given |
|---|---|---|
| Base verb | Give | Give |
| Form | Present participle / gerund | Past participle |
| Typical meaning | An action in progress or the act of providing | An action completed or something considered |
| Common structure | Is/are/was/were + giving | Has/have/had + given |
| Example | She is giving advice. | She has given advice. |
| Passive use | Less common as the main form | Very common |
| Example | Giving help is kind. | Help was given. |
When Should You Use “Giving”?
Use giving when you need the -ing form of give.
1. For an action happening now
She is giving a presentation.
2. For a continuing action
They were giving instructions when I arrived.
3. As a gerund
Giving advice is easy; following it can be harder.
4. After certain verbs or expressions
He enjoys giving gifts to his family.
5. In descriptions of someone’s behavior
She has a very giving personality.
When Should You Use “Given”?
Use given when the grammar requires the past participle of give.
1. With “has,” “have,” or “had”
She has given me the answer.
They had given us enough time.
2. In the passive voice
The students were given extra time.
3. With modal perfect structures
He should have given you more information.
4. To mean “considering”
Given the weather, we stayed home.
5. In expressions such as “given that”
Given that he was tired, he went home early.
Giving or Given: 10+ Examples
Here are examples that make the difference easier to see:
- She is giving me a present.
The action is happening now. - She has given me a present.
The action has been completed. - He is giving a speech tonight.
The speech is an upcoming or planned action. - He has given three speeches this month.
The speeches have already happened. - Giving advice is easy.
Giving functions as a gerund. - The teacher has given us homework.
Given follows has. - They were giving directions to the visitors.
The action was in progress. - The visitors were given directions.
This is passive voice. - Given the situation, we should wait.
Given means “considering.” - She enjoys giving presents.
Giving follows enjoys. - He had given me the wrong address.
Given follows had. - The students were given another opportunity.
Given forms part of a passive construction.
Common Mistakes With Giving and Given
Mistake 1: Using “giving” after “has”
Incorrect:
She has giving me the book.
Correct:
She has given me the book.
After has/have/had, use the past participle given.
Mistake 2: Using “given” in a continuous tense
Incorrect:
She is given me a gift.
Correct:
She is giving me a gift.
After is/am/are/was/were in a continuous construction, use giving.
Mistake 3: Confusing active and passive voice
Compare:
The teacher is giving the students homework.
The teacher performs the action.
The students are being given homework.
The students receive the action.
Mistake 4: Forgetting that “given” can mean “considering”
Given the circumstances, we canceled the meeting.
Here, given does not mean that someone handed something to someone. It means considering the circumstances.
A Simple Memory Trick
Think of the two forms this way:
Giving = doing the action
Given = receiving or having completed the action
For example:
I am giving you a book.
I have given you a book.
A second useful trick is to remember:
is/am/are + giving
has/have/had + given
These patterns will help you choose the correct form in many everyday sentences.
American vs. British English
There is no major difference between American and British English in the basic grammatical distinction between giving and given.
Both varieties use:
She is giving me a book.
and:
She has given me a book.
The forms and their basic grammatical functions are the same in both varieties.
Differences may appear in vocabulary, pronunciation, or other grammatical preferences between American and British English, but giving vs. given is not generally one of those differences.
Similar Words Related to “Giving” and “Given”
Understanding related forms can make the verb give easier to remember.
- Give — base formPlease give me a chance.
- Gives — third-person singular presentShe gives good advice.
- Gave — simple pastHe gave me a gift yesterday.
- Giving — present participle/gerundShe is giving a presentation.
- Given — past participleShe has given a presentation.
A useful verb pattern is:
give → gave → given → giving
Final Verdict: Giving or Given?
The correct choice depends on the grammar of your sentence.
Use giving for the -ing form, especially for actions in progress or when give functions as a gerund:
They are giving away free samples.
Use given as the past participle, especially after has, have, or had, in passive constructions, or when it means “considering”:
They have given away all the samples.
Given the circumstances, we left.
So, neither word is universally “correct.” The sentence structure determines whether you need giving or given.
FAQs About Giving vs. Given
Is “giving” the present tense of “give”?
Not exactly. Giving is the present participle or gerund form of give. It is commonly used with forms of be in continuous tenses, such as “is giving.”
Is “given” the past tense of “give”?
No. Gave is the simple past form of give. Given is the past participle.
The pattern is:
give → gave → given
Is it “has giving” or “has given”?
The correct form is has given.
She has given me the information.
Is it “is giving” or “is given”?
Both can be correct, but they have different grammatical functions.
She is giving me a book.
She is given a book every month.
The second sentence uses passive voice.
What is the difference between “giving” and “given”?
Giving is the -ing form of give, while given is its past participle. Giving often describes an ongoing action; given commonly appears in perfect or passive constructions.
Can “given” mean “considering”?
Yes. Given can mean “considering” or “taking into account.”
Given the circumstances, we decided to wait.
What is the past participle of “give”?
The past participle of give is given.
give → gave → given
Remember This
- Giving = -ing form
- Given = past participle
- Give = base form
- Gave = simple past
- Is giving = continuous action
- Has given = completed action
- Was given = passive construction
- Given the situation = considering the situation
Conclusion
The difference between giving and given is mainly grammatical. Giving is the present participle or gerund form of give, while given is the past participle. Understanding the verb pattern give → gave → given → giving makes the distinction much easier.
When you are unsure, look at the words around the verb. If you see a continuous structure such as is giving or was giving, use giving. If you see has given, have given, had given, or a passive structure such as was given, use given. With a little practice, choosing between these two forms becomes natural.
John Tyler is a dream researcher and content writer at SleepCout, sharing insightful articles about coded dreams, dream meanings, symbolism, sleep psychology, and practical guidance to help readers understand their dreams.
