Giving vs. Given: How to Use Each Correctly (With Clear Examples)

As a teacher of English for non-native speakers, I’ve often seen learners struggle to use giving and given correctly. Both come from the root verb give, yet their functions differ in a sentence, which often confuses even fluent students. When I first started teaching, I noticed how tricky topics like this could shake a learner’s confidence. The subtle difference lies in their grammatical roles—giving is the present participle, used for an action in progress or something happening continuously, while given is the past participle, used in passive constructions or when an action has completed. In my grammar classes, I emphasize the importance of understanding these differences through practical, real-life examples and hands-on practice. It’s not just about rules—it’s about developing fluency and feeling natural when writing or speaking.

Over the years, I’ve provided many students with a simple guide: notice whether the action is ongoing or already occurred. For instance, “She is giving a presentation now” shows something in motion, while “The award was given yesterday” reflects something that’s completed. Once learners recognize these patterns and contexts, their communication becomes clearer, accurate, and almost automatic. Fluent speakers naturally choose the right word because they’ve built an instinct through solid, hands-on practice and understanding the theory behind it. The function of each form becomes second nature, turning what once caused confusion into an active, confident, and similar yet differently applied skill—one that transforms grammar from memorized rules into true fluency.

The Core Difference Between “Giving” and “Given”

Both “giving” and “given” come from the verb “give,” but they serve different grammatical purposes.

Here’s the simplest way to remember the difference:

• Giving shows an ongoing action — something that’s still happening or continuous.
• Given shows a completed action — something that’s already done or received.

Let’s see it visually:

Form	Verb Type	Used In	Example	Meaning
Giving	Present participle / Gerund	Continuous tenses, noun forms	She is giving her speech.	Action happening right now
Given	Past participle	Perfect tenses, passive voice, adjective, preposition	She was given an award.	Action already completed or describing a condition

A quick memory trick:

If it’s happening, it’s “giving.”
If it’s finished, it’s “given.”

Understanding “Giving” in Grammar

“Giving” as a Present Participle

The word “giving” acts as the present participle of “give.” It shows ongoing actions — something that’s happening right now or was happening in the past.

Examples:

• I am giving my best effort.
• They are giving free samples at the store.
• She’s giving a lecture at the university.

Here, “am/is/are + giving” forms the present continuous tense, used to describe an action in progress.

Usage tip:
You use “giving” when the action is in motion, not completed.

“Giving” in Past and Perfect Continuous Tenses

“Giving” also works in past continuous and perfect continuous tenses.

Past Continuous (was/were + giving):
Used to describe something that was happening at a specific time in the past.

• He was giving his presentation when the power went out.
• They were giving food to the homeless yesterday.

Perfect Continuous (have/has/had been + giving):
Used to emphasize how long an action has been happening.

• She has been giving piano lessons for five years.
• We had been giving our time to charity before the project ended.

In short:

“Giving” focuses on duration and continuity, while “given” focuses on completion.

“Giving” as a Gerund (Noun Form)

Sometimes, “giving” doesn’t act like a verb at all — it behaves like a noun. In this case, it’s called a gerund.

Examples:

• Giving is caring.
• I love giving gifts during the holidays.
• Her giving nature inspires others.

Notice how “giving” functions as the subject or object in the sentence — that’s a key feature of gerunds.

Here’s a quick reference table:

Sentence	Function of “Giving”	Explanation
Giving helps people feel connected.	Subject	“Giving” is performing the action
She enjoys giving compliments.	Object	“Giving” receives the verb “enjoys”
They talked about giving back to the community.	Object of preposition	“Giving” follows the preposition “about”

Tip: If you can replace the word with a noun like “kindness” or “helping”, then “giving” is likely acting as a gerund.

Understanding “Given” in Grammar

Now let’s shift gears to “given” — the past participle of “give.” It has several functions: as part of perfect tenses, in passive voice, and even as an adjective or preposition.

“Given” as a Past Participle

When used with have/has/had, “given” forms perfect tenses. These show an action that’s completed before another time.

Examples:

• I have given my word.
• She had given the keys to her friend.
• They have given their approval.

Here’s what each tense conveys:

Tense	Structure	Example	Meaning
Present Perfect	have/has + given	She has given her consent.	Action completed at an unspecified time before now
Past Perfect	had + given	He had given his best before retiring.	Action completed before another past event
Future Perfect	will have + given	They will have given their decision by tomorrow.	Action completed before a future point

Rule of thumb:

“Given” shows something already done — it’s about completion, not continuation.

“Given” in the Passive Voice

“Given” is also widely used in passive sentences, where the subject receives the action instead of doing it.

Structure:
was/were + given + object (optional)

Examples:

• The award was given to the winner.
• He was given a second chance.
• Directions were given before the test started.

Notice that in each example, the receiver of the action becomes the subject.

Quick Tip:
If the focus is on what was received, not who gave it, then use “given.”

Active Voice	Passive Voice
The teacher gave homework.	Homework was given by the teacher.
They gave me an opportunity.	I was given an opportunity.

“Given” as an Adjective

Beyond verbs, “given” can act as an adjective, describing something that is specific, fixed, or established.

Examples:

• At any given moment, something amazing could happen.
• We must follow the rules in any given situation.
• The results are consistent under given conditions.

Meaning: Here, “given” means particular or known in advance.

Phrase	Meaning
Given time	A specific amount of time
Given circumstances	Considering the situation
A given point	A specific or fixed point

Tip:
If you can replace “given” with “particular,” it’s likely functioning as an adjective.

“Given” as a Preposition

“Given” can also work as a preposition meaning “considering” or “because of.”

Examples:

• Given his experience, he’s the best person for the job.
• Given the weather, we should stay indoors.
• Given her dedication, success was inevitable.

This use is common in formal and written English, often at the start of a sentence.

Table: Examples and Meanings

Sentence	Meaning
Given the facts, your argument makes sense.	Considering the facts
Given her age, she’s incredibly fit.	Because of her age
Given their schedule, we should reschedule.	Taking their schedule into account

Comparing “Giving” vs. “Given” in Real Sentences

Here’s a side-by-side comparison of how “giving” and “given” differ in real contexts:

Example with “Giving”	Example with “Given”	Explanation
She is giving a lecture.	She was given a chance to lecture.	“Giving” = ongoing action; “Given” = received action
They were giving money to charity.	Money was given to charity.	Active vs. passive construction
Giving up isn’t an option.	He has given up already.	Gerund vs. past participle
I’ve been giving my time to volunteer work.	I was given an award for volunteering.	Continuous vs. completed

Common Mistakes Learners Make

Even advanced learners mix up “giving” and “given.” Here are the most frequent slip-ups — and how to fix them.

1. Using “given” in place of “giving” (or vice versa)
I’m given him my time.
I’m giving him my time.

2. Forgetting tense consistency
She has been give money before.
She has been given money before.

3. Mixing up gerund and participle forms
Giving to the people with low-income was appreciated. (incorrect if passive intended)
Giving to the people with low-income is appreciated. (correct if active meaning)

4. Confusing passive vs. active constructions
He given the book to her.
He gave the book to her. or The book was given to her.

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Tips to Remember the Difference

Here are some simple yet powerful tricks to keep “giving” and “given” straight:

• 🧠 Think Time:
  • Giving = happening now or continuously.
  • Given = already done.
• 🗣️ Say it Out Loud:
  If “is/was” sounds natural, use “giving.”
  If “has/had” fits, use “given.”
• 💡 Memory Trick:
  “Giving” has an “ing” — it’s still ongoing.
  “Given” ends with “en” — it’s already ended.
• 📊 Quick Formula:

Action Stage	Use	Example
Ongoing	Giving	I am giving my best.
Completed	Given	I have given my best.

Real-Life Usage Examples

Business context:

• The company is giving bonuses this month.
• Employees were given recognition for their hard work.

Education:

• The teacher is giving a test tomorrow.
• The students were given additional study material.

Daily life:

• I love giving gifts.
• I was given a gift on my birthday.

Here’s a small dialogue showing both in action:

Alex: “I’m giving my time to volunteer work this weekend.”
Mia: “That’s great! You deserve the appreciation you’ve been given.”

This kind of conversational example helps learners hear how both words work naturally.

“Giving” and “Given” in Idioms and Expressions

Both words appear in many idiomatic expressions that add color to everyday English.

Expression	Meaning	Example
Giving it your all	Doing your best	He’s giving it his all in the competition.
Giving up	Quitting or surrendering	Don’t think of giving up yet.
Given the chance	If the opportunity arises	Given the chance, she would travel the world.
Given that	Considering the fact that	Given that it’s late, let’s call it a night.
Giving someone a hard time	Teasing or bothering someone	They’re giving him a hard time about his haircut.

Idioms make English feel more alive and expressive, and understanding them helps you sound more natural.

Practice Section: Test Your Understanding

Try filling in the blanks to test what you’ve learned.

1. She has _______ me great advice.
2. I am _______ my best effort.
3. The books were _______ away for free.
4. _______ enough time, we’ll finish early.
5. _______ is caring.

Answers:

1. given
2. giving
3. given
4. Given
5. Giving

Summary and Key Takeaways

Let’s wrap up what we’ve covered:

Feature	Giving	Given
Verb Form	Present participle / Gerund	Past participle
Focus	Ongoing / Continuous	Completed / Result
Used In	Continuous tenses, gerunds	Perfect tenses, passive voice
Example	She is giving her speech.	She was given an award.
Common Meaning	Performing the action	Receiving or describing the action

Quick Tip Recap:

• Use “giving” when something is happening.
• Use “given” when something has already happened or been received.

In one line: If it’s in motion, it’s “giving.” If it’s done, it’s “given.”

Conclusion

Mastering the difference between giving and given may seem tricky at first, but with the right understanding, it becomes a simple part of English communication. Both words share the same root verb—give—yet play very different grammatical roles. Giving reflects an action in progress, while given shows a completed one. Once learners grasp this subtle difference, they become more confident, accurate, and fluent in both writing and speaking. With practice, real-life examples, and a bit of hands-on learning, choosing the right word becomes almost automatic.

FAQs

1. What is the main difference between “giving” and “given”?

The main difference is tense and meaning. Giving shows something that’s happening now or is ongoing, while given refers to something already completed or provided.

2. Can both “giving” and “given” be used as adjectives?

Yes. Giving can describe a person who is generous (e.g., She’s a giving person), while given can describe something that’s assumed or provided (e.g., It’s a given fact).

3. Why do English learners often get confused between these two words?

Because both come from the same verb give, and their forms look similar. Without knowing their roles in a sentence, learners may mix them up.

4. How can I remember when to use “giving” or “given”?

Think of giving as active and happening, and given as passive and completed. Practice by creating your own examples and using them in speaking or writing.

5. What’s the best way to practice using “giving” and “given”?

Use both words in real-life contexts—write short sentences, listen to native speakers, and repeat. Over time, your fluency and confidence will grow naturally.