This guide breaks down everything you need to know about giving or given with simple examples.
What’s the Difference Between Giving and Given?
The core difference lies in timing and function. Giving describes actions happening right now or continuously. Given describes actions that already happened or states that exist.
Giving acts as a present participle. You’ll see it in continuous tenses like “I am giving” or as a gerund (noun form) like “giving gifts.” It shows ongoing activity or describes something in progress.
Given functions as a past participle. It appears in perfect tenses like “I have given” and passive voice constructions like “The award was given.” It can also work as an adjective meaning “specified” or as a preposition meaning “considering.”
Giving vs Given
| Form | Type | Example |
| Giving | Present Participle | She is giving a speech |
| Given | Past Participle | She has given three speeches |
Think of giving as active and present, while given signals completion or a settled fact.
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When to Use “Giving” (Present Participle)
Giving works in continuous tenses to show actions in progress. You use it when something is happening right now or was happening at a specific past moment.
Common uses include “I am giving him advice” or “They were giving presentations all morning.” The -ing form always indicates ongoing activity or temporary situations.
As a gerund, giving becomes a noun. Examples include “Giving is better than receiving” or “I enjoy giving compliments.” Here, giving names the activity itself rather than describing when it happens.
Giving also functions as an adjective. A “giving person” means someone generous by nature. A “giving tree” refers to something that provides continuously. This descriptive use shows a characteristic or quality.
Examples of giving in action:
- She is giving a presentation to the board right now
- Giving blood saves lives every single day
- He was giving his daughter driving lessons last summer
- The company values giving back to the community
These expressions always use the -ing form because they describe processes or actions.
When to Use “Given” (Past Participle)
Given appears in perfect tenses to show completed actions. You’ll write “I have given,” “she had given,” or “they will have given.” These constructions emphasize that an action finished at some point.
The passive voice always requires given. “The instructions were given clearly” or “Prizes are given to top performers” shift focus from who does the action to what receives it. This structure is common in formal writing and official contexts.
Given works as an adjective meaning “specified” or “particular.” A “given day” means any specific day. “Under given circumstances” refers to particular conditions. This usage treats given like words such as “certain” or “specific.”
As a preposition, given means “considering” or “taking into account.” “Given the weather, we should postpone” or “Given her experience, she deserves the promotion.” This sophisticated usage appears frequently in academic and professional writing.
Examples of given in sentences:
- I have given this problem considerable thought already
- The trophy was given to the winning team yesterday
- Given the current economic climate, we must budget carefully
- She had given up smoking years before her diagnosis
The phrase “God-given” describes natural talents or rights.
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Side-by-Side Comparison With Examples
Understanding the timing difference helps you choose correctly. Giving points to present or ongoing situations. Given points backward to completed events or describes established facts.
| Giving (Present) | Given (Completed) |
| I am giving a speech tomorrow | I have given that speech before |
| She’s giving him another chance | She has given him three chances already |
| They’re giving free samples today | Free samples were given yesterday |
| Giving advice comes naturally to her | The advice given proved helpful |
| He’s giving up caffeine this month | He’s given up caffeine permanently |
Memory trick
If you can replace it with “is/was/will be doing,” use giving.
If you can replace it with “has/had done” or “was done to,” use given.
The grammatical structure also guides your choice. Continuous tenses (am, is, are, was, were + verb) demand giving. Perfect tenses (have, has, had + verb) and passive constructions (is, was, were + verb) require given.
FAQ’s
Is it “giving up” or “given up”?
Both are correct but used differently. “I am giving up coffee” means you’re quitting now. “I have given up coffee” means you already quit. Use giving for present actions and given for completed ones.
Can “given” mean “if we consider”?
Yes, given works as a preposition meaning “considering” or “taking into account.” Example: “Given your busy schedule, let’s meet next week instead.”
What’s the past tense of “give”?
The simple past tense is “gave” (not given). Write “She gave me flowers yesterday.” Use given only with helping verbs like have, has, had, or in passive voice.
Is “giving” always a verb?
No, giving can be a gerund (noun) like “Giving makes me happy” or an adjective like “a giving person.” It serves multiple grammatical functions beyond just verb forms.
When do I use “has given” vs “is giving”?
“Has given” shows a completed action: “He has given his notice.” “Is giving” shows current action: “He is giving his presentation now.” The time frame determines which form to use.
Do British and American English differ on this?
No, both varieties use giving and given the same way. The grammatical rules for these forms remain consistent across all English-speaking regions.
Final Thoughts
The key to mastering giving or given is recognizing whether you’re describing ongoing action or completed action. With practice, choosing the right form becomes automatic and natural in your everyday communication.
At FixerGrammar.com, Johnson Isaacs shares easy grammar tips, clear examples, and helpful guidance to make writing simple, smooth, and mistake-free.
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