“Giving” and “given” both come from the same verb — give — but they work completely differently in a sentence.
“Giving” describes an action happening right now or an ongoing state. “Given” describes a completed action, a passive situation, or means “considering.”
This guide breaks down the difference between giving and given, when to use each one, and how to avoid the most common mistakes.
What Does “Giving” Mean?
“Giving” is the present participle of the verb give. It is used to show an action in progress, a generous quality, or a noun-like concept depending on how it appears in a sentence.
It always points to something active, ongoing, or currently happening.
Example: “She is giving a speech to the entire department.”
Three main ways “giving” is used:
Giving as a Continuous Verb
Used with a form of be to show something happening right now or over a period of time.
- “He is giving a presentation.”
- “They were giving away free samples.”
- “I am giving this my full attention.”
Giving as an Adjective
Describes a person who is generous and willing to share — a personality trait.
- “She is one of the most giving people I have ever met.”
- “He has a giving spirit that inspires everyone around him.”
Giving as a Gerund (Noun)
Acts as a noun when it appears as the subject or object of a sentence.
- “Giving to charity is one of the most rewarding things you can do.”
- “The act of giving brings more joy than receiving.”
“Giving” Forms at a Glance
What Does “Given” Mean?
“Given” is the past participle of the verb give. It is used to show a completed action, a passive situation, or to mean “considering” when used as a preposition or adjective.
It always points to something finished, received, or already established.
Example: “I have given him every opportunity to explain.”
Three main ways “given” is used:
Given in Perfect Tenses
Used with have, has, or had to show an action that is completed.
- “She has given her approval.”
- “They had given us plenty of warning.”
- “I have given this a lot of thought.”
Given in Passive Voice
Shows that something was received or bestowed — the subject did not perform the action but received it.
- “He was given a second chance.”
- “The award was given to the top performer.”
- “She was given very little time to respond.”
Given as a Preposition or Adjective
Means “considering” or “taking into account.” This is a completely different grammatical role — no action involved at all.
- “Given the circumstances, she handled it remarkably well.”
- “Given that it was his first attempt, the result was impressive.”
- “Given the budget, we need a simpler solution.”
“Given” Forms at a Glance
The Key Difference Between Giving or Given
The Helper Verb Is Your Guide
The word that comes before giving or given tells you which one to use:
- Is / are / was / were + giving → continuous action happening over time
- Have / has / had + given → action completed at some point
- Was / were + given → passive — someone received something
Helper Verb + Giving / Given
When to Use Giving or Given
Use “Giving” When:
- Describing an action currently in progress
- Describing someone’s generous personality
- Using give as a noun (gerund) — the subject or object of a sentence
- The sentence includes is, are, was, or were before it
Examples:
- “The professor is giving extra credit this semester.”
- “Giving your time is just as valuable as giving money.”
Use “Given” When:
- Describing a completed action using have, has, or had
- Expressing that someone received something (passive voice)
- Meaning “considering” or “taking into account”
- The sentence includes have, has, had, or passive was / were before it
Examples:
- “The team has given its final recommendation.”
- “Given the delay, the deadline will be extended.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Memory trick:
- Giving → the -ing signals something ongoing — it is happening right now
- Given → think “already done” — the action is finished and handed over
- Ask: “Is this happening now or has it already happened?” Now → giving. Already done → given.
FAQs — Giving or Given
How do you use given in a sentence?
“Given” works in three ways. As a perfect tense verb: “She has given her decision.” As passive voice: “He was given a second chance.” As a preposition meaning “considering”: “Given the weather, we cancelled the trip.”
How to use the word “giving”?
Use “giving” for an ongoing action with is/are/was: “He is giving a tour.” As an adjective for generosity: “She is a giving person.” As a gerund (noun): “Giving back to the community matters.”
Is it giving you or given you?
It depends on context. “I am giving you this information” = action happening now. “I have given you every chance” = action already completed. The helper verb before it determines the correct form.
What is the difference between Giving and Given?
“Giving” is the present participle — used for ongoing actions, generous descriptions, or noun uses. “Given” is the past participle — used for completed actions, passive voice, or to mean “considering.” Time and context determine which one fits.
Conclusion
“Giving” and “given” come from the same verb but serve completely different grammatical roles. “Giving” is active and ongoing — something happening right now or a quality someone possesses. “Given” is completed and passive — something already finished, received, or used to mean “considering.”
Check the helper verb in your sentence and the answer becomes clear every time. Is, are, was, were before it → giving. Have, has, had or passive was/were before it → given. Master that one check and you will never mix these two up again.
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