A small change in a verb can completely change the meaning of a sentence. That is exactly what happens with giving vs given. Although both words come from the verb give, they serve different grammatical purposes and cannot always be used interchangeably.
The easiest way to remember the difference is this: giving is the present participle or gerund form of give, while given is its past participle. The verb give has the forms give, gave, given, giving, with gave serving as the simple past and given as the past participle.
Once you understand how each form works, choosing between given vs giving becomes much easier.
Giving vs Given: Quick Answer
Here is the simplest distinction:
- Giving describes an action that is happening, continuing, or functioning as a noun.
- Given is the past participle of give and is commonly used with auxiliary verbs such as has, have, had, is, or was in passive constructions.
- Gave is the simple past form of give.
- Give is the base form.
For example:
- I am giving him a book.
- I have given him a book.
- I gave him a book yesterday.
- I give him a book every month.
The meaning of give can include providing something, offering something, performing an action, or causing something to happen.
Giving Meaning and How to Use It
Giving is the -ing form of give. Grammatically, it can function as a present participle or as a gerund.
As a present participle, it commonly appears with forms of be to describe an action in progress:
She is giving a presentation.
Here, giving tells us what she is doing right now.
It can also function as a gerund, meaning it acts like a noun:
Giving to others can be rewarding.
In this sentence, giving is the subject of the sentence.
Examples of Giving
- He is giving his sister some advice.
- They are giving away free samples.
- She enjoys giving gifts to her friends.
- We were giving the project our full attention.
- Giving someone a second chance can make a difference.
The exact meaning depends on the sentence. Giving can refer to providing something, donating something, offering something, or performing an action.
Given Meaning and How to Use It
Given is the past participle of give. Cambridge Dictionary identifies given as the past participle of give.
Unlike giving, given generally does not work as a simple present-tense verb by itself.
For example:
I have given him the information.
Here, have + given creates the present perfect tense.
Another common construction is the passive voice:
She was given a new opportunity.
In this sentence, was given tells us that someone provided the opportunity to her.
Examples of Given
- I have given him the keys.
- She had given me enough time.
- They were given clear instructions.
- He has given his answer.
- The students were given extra time.
Given can also be used as an adjective or preposition in certain contexts. For example, a given situation means a particular or already established situation, while given the circumstances means “considering the circumstances.”
Giving vs Given in Grammar
The biggest difference becomes clear when you look at verb forms.
This pattern is worth memorizing because it applies to countless sentences.
| Form | Grammatical role | Example |
| Give | Base form | I give him advice. |
| Gave | Simple past | I gave him advice yesterday. |
| Given | Past participle | I have given him advice. |
| Giving | Present participle/gerund | I am giving him advice. |
Giving Usually Shows an Ongoing Action
When you see am, is, are, was, or were + giving, the word usually describes an action in progress.
Examples:
- She is giving a speech.
- They are giving us directions.
- He was giving the children instructions.
- We were giving the machine another test.
The action is viewed as happening or continuing around a particular time.
Given Usually Completes a Perfect or Passive Construction
With perfect tenses, given follows have, has, or had:
- I have given my answer.
- She has given us permission.
- They had given him several warnings.
With passive constructions, it can follow a form of be:
- He was given a chance.
- The team was given new equipment.
- The students were given additional instructions.
This is why replacing given with giving can make a sentence grammatically incorrect.
Given vs Giving: Side-by-Side Examples
Consider these pairs:
1. Ongoing Action
Correct:
She is giving a lecture.
Incorrect:
She is given a lecture.
The first sentence describes an action she is performing.
2. Completed Action
Correct:
She has given a lecture.
Incorrect:
She has giving a lecture.
After has, the past participle given is required.
3. Passive Construction
Correct:
He was given a ticket.
Incorrect:
He was giving a ticket.
The first sentence means someone gave him a ticket.
4. Action in Progress
Correct:
He was giving a speech.
Here, was giving describes an action that was taking place at a particular time.
5. Simple Past
Correct:
He gave a speech yesterday.
Notice that neither giving nor given is appropriate here. The simple past form is gave.
Giving vs Given vs Gave
One of the most common mistakes is confusing given with gave.
They are both forms of give, but they are not used in exactly the same way.
Gave
Gave is the simple past form.
She gave me the book yesterday.
The action happened in the past.
Given
Given is the past participle.
She has given me the book.
Because given is a past participle, it normally works with an auxiliary verb in standard perfect constructions.
Giving
Giving is the present participle or gerund.
She is giving me the book.
The action is presented as ongoing.
A useful shortcut is:
Yesterday → gave
Has/have/had → given
Am/is/are/was/were + ongoing action → giving
This is not a rule that covers every possible construction, but it works extremely well for everyday English.
When to Use Giving
The use giving when you want to describe an action in progress or use give as a gerund.
Use Giving After Forms of “Be”
- I am giving a presentation.
- She is giving him directions.
- They are giving away samples.
- We were giving the problem serious thought.
Use Giving as a Gerund
- Giving is better than taking.
- I enjoy giving people useful advice.
- Giving someone support can mean a lot.
- She believes in giving others a chance.
In these examples, giving refers to an activity rather than a completed action.
When to Use Given
Use given when the grammar requires the past participle of give.
After Have, Has, or Had
- I have given you the information.
- She has given me permission.
- They had given us enough time.
In Passive Voice
- He was given a warning.
- She was given an opportunity.
- The workers were given new instructions.
As an Adjective or Preposition
Given can also have meanings beyond its role as a verb form.
For example:
At any given time, thousands of people may be using the service.
Here, given means a particular or specified time.
Another example is:
Given the circumstances, we decided to wait.
Here, given means “considering.”
Giving or Given: Which Is Correct?
There is no single answer because both giving and given are correct words.
The correct choice depends on the sentence.
Compare:
I am giving him the money.
with:
I have given him the money.
The first emphasizes an action in progress. The second presents the action as completed in relation to the present.
Similarly:
She was giving a speech.
means she was performing the speech.
But:
She was given a speech.
would mean someone provided or assigned a speech to her, although that sentence would be less common depending on the intended meaning.
Common Mistakes With Giving and Given
Mistake 1: Using “Giving” After “Has”
Incorrect:
He has giving me the answer.
Correct:
He has given me the answer.
After has, use the past participle given.
Mistake 2: Using “Given” for an Ongoing Action
Incorrect:
She is given a presentation.
If you mean she is presenting something, say:
She is giving a presentation.
Mistake 3: Confusing “Gave” and “Given”
Incorrect:
I have gave him the book.
Correct:
I have given him the book.
But:
I gave him the book yesterday.
The difference is the grammatical structure.
A Simple Trick to Remember Giving vs Given
If you regularly confuse these forms, remember the basic pattern:
Give → Gave → Given → Giving
Then connect each form to a question:
- Give: What happens generally?
I give advice. - Gave: What happened in the past?
I gave advice yesterday. - Given: What has been completed or received?
I have given advice. - Giving: What is happening now or being treated as an activity?
I am giving advice.
Once these patterns become familiar, the difference becomes much more intuitive.
Why “Given” Can Be Confusing
Part of the confusion comes from the fact that given has several grammatical roles.
It is primarily the past participle of give, but it can also appear as an adjective and preposition.
For example:
- The award was given to her. — past participle
- At any given moment. — adjective
- Given the circumstances, we left. — preposition
So if you see given in a sentence, don’t automatically assume it refers to a completed act of giving.
Look at the words around it and consider its role.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “giving” the same as “given”?
No. Both come from the verb give, but they have different grammatical functions. Giving is the present participle or gerund, while given is the past participle.
Is “given” past tense?
Not exactly. Gave is the simple past form of give. Given is the past participle and is commonly used with auxiliary verbs such as have, has, and had.
Is “giving” present tense?
Giving itself is not a tense. It is the present participle or gerund form of give. It appears in progressive constructions such as is giving or was giving.
Should I say “I have given” or “I have gave”?
The correct form is “I have given.”
For example:
I have given him the information.
Gave is used for the simple past:
I gave him the information yesterday.
Should I say “I am giving” or “I am given”?
Usually, if you mean that you are performing the action, say “I am giving.”
For example:
I am giving a presentation.
I am given is passive and means that someone is giving something to you:
I am given a new assignment every week.
Is “given” a word?
Yes. Given is the past participle of give, and it also functions as an adjective, noun, and preposition in certain contexts.
What is the difference between “given” and “gave”?
Gave is the simple past form, while given is the past participle.
- I gave her a gift yesterday.
- I have given her a gift.
Which is correct: “given or giving”?
Both are correct, but they are used differently. Use giving for an ongoing action or gerund, and given when the sentence requires the past participle or one of its other grammatical uses.
Which is correct: “giving or given” after “was”?
It depends on the meaning.
- She was giving a speech. — She was performing the action.
- She was given a speech. — Someone provided or assigned a speech to her.
The surrounding words determine which form is appropriate.
Conclusion: Giving vs Given
The difference between giving vs given becomes much easier once you recognize their grammatical roles. Giving is the -ing form of give, commonly used for ongoing actions and gerunds. Given is the past participle, commonly used after have, has, or had and in passive constructions.
And don’t forget gave: it is the simple past form.
A quick reference is:
- Give = base form
- Gave = simple past
- Given = past participle
- Giving = present participle/gerund
When deciding between given vs giving, look at the words immediately around the verb. That small habit will help you choose the correct form naturally and make your writing clearer and more accurate.
