The difference between giving vs given is a common source of confusion for English learners and even native speakers. Both words come from the same verb, give, but they have different grammatical functions. If you’re unsure whether to say “giving” or “given” in a sentence, understanding their verb forms can make the choice much easier.
The good news is that the difference is quite simple once you know the basic rule. Giving is the -ing form of the verb give, while given is the past participle. However, the correct choice depends on the tense, sentence structure, and whether the word is being used as part of a verb phrase or as a noun-like gerund. Let’s look at giving vs given with simple explanations, examples, common mistakes, and useful grammar tips.
Quick Answer: Giving vs Given
The simplest difference between giving and given is their grammatical form and usage.
- Giving is the present participle or -ing form of give.
- Given is the past participle of give.
- Giving is commonly used for ongoing actions and as a gerund.
- Given is commonly used with has, have, or had and in passive constructions.
Examples
She is giving me a book.
The action is happening now, so giving is used.
She has given me a book.
The action has already happened, so given is used with has.
A useful basic pattern is:
Give → Gave → Given
Give → Giving
Remember that gave is the simple past tense, while given is the past participle.
Giving vs Given: The Basic Difference
The words giving and given are different forms of the irregular verb give.
Here are the main forms:
| Verb Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Base form | Give | I give him advice. |
| Simple past | Gave | I gave him advice. |
| Past participle | Given | I have given him advice. |
| Present participle / -ing form | Giving | I am giving him advice. |
Each form has a different role in English grammar.
The most important thing to remember is that given cannot normally replace gave, and giving cannot normally replace given.
For example:
I gave her a gift yesterday.
I have given her a gift.
I am giving her a gift now.
All three sentences describe the act of giving, but they use different verb forms because the sentence structures are different.
What Does “Giving” Mean?
Giving is the -ing form of the verb give. It can be used in several grammatical situations.
1. Giving in the Present Continuous
The word giving is commonly used with am, is, or are to describe an action that is happening now or around the present time.
Examples:
- I am giving him a present.
- She is giving a speech.
- They are giving the students extra time.
- He is giving me useful advice.
In these examples, the structure is:
am/is/are + giving
The action is presented as ongoing.
2. Giving as a Gerund
Giving can also act as a gerund. A gerund is an -ing form that functions like a noun.
Examples:
- Giving is better than receiving.
- Giving to others can be rewarding.
- Giving advice is sometimes difficult.
- Giving someone a second chance can make a difference.
In these sentences, giving refers to the activity or idea of giving.
3. Giving in Continuous Tenses
The word giving can also appear in other continuous structures.
For example:
- She was giving a presentation.
- They have been giving lessons for several years.
- He had been giving advice to the team.
In each case, giving describes an action that is continuing or was continuing at a particular time.
What Does “Given” Mean?
Given is the past participle of the irregular verb give.
It is commonly used with auxiliary verbs such as:
- Has
- Have
- Had
Examples:
- I have given him the information.
- She has given me excellent advice.
- They had given us enough time.
- He has given his approval.
The word given is also frequently used in passive constructions.
Examples:
- He was given a chance.
- She was given a new assignment.
- The students were given extra time.
- We were given clear instructions.
In these sentences, the person receives something rather than actively giving it.
Giving vs Given in Examples
Let’s compare the two forms directly.
Example 1: Giving
I am giving my friend a gift.
The action is happening now.
Example 2: Given
I have given my friend a gift.
The action has already happened and is connected to the present.
Example 3: Giving
She is giving a presentation.
The presentation is currently taking place.
Example 4: Given
She has given a presentation.
The presentation has already taken place.
Example 5: Giving as a Gerund
Giving is an important part of helping others.
Here, giving functions like a noun.
Example 6: Given in Passive Voice
He was given an opportunity.
Here, the person received the opportunity.
Giving vs Given vs Gave
One of the biggest grammar mistakes is confusing giving, given, and gave.
Although all three come from the verb give, they are not interchangeable.
Give
Use give as the base form.
Example:
I give my brother a gift every year.
Gave
Use gave as the simple past tense.
Example:
I gave my brother a gift yesterday.
Given
Use given as the past participle.
Example:
I have given my brother a gift.
Giving
Use giving as the -ing form.
Example:
I am giving my brother a gift.
A useful pattern is:
Present: I give.
Past: I gave.
Perfect: I have given.
Continuous: I am giving.
Common Mistakes With Giving and Given
Mistake 1: I Have Gave
Incorrect:
I have gave him the book.
Correct:
I have given him the book.
After have, has, or had, you generally need the past participle given, not the simple past gave.
Mistake 2: I Am Given Him a Book
Incorrect:
I am given him a book.
Correct:
I am giving him a book.
When describing an action that is happening now, use am/is/are + giving.
Mistake 3: She Has Giving Me Advice
Incorrect:
She has giving me advice.
Correct:
She has given me advice.
After has, use the past participle given.
However, if you want to describe an ongoing action, you can say:
She has been giving me advice.
Here, giving is used after been in the present perfect continuous tense.
Mistake 4: I Gave Him the Book Yesterday vs I Have Given Him the Book
Both sentences can be correct, but they have different structures.
I gave him the book yesterday.
This uses the simple past and refers to a completed past event.
I have given him the book.
This uses the present perfect and connects the past action to the present situation.
Giving vs Given: A Quick Grammar Test
When you are unsure which word to use, look at the words around it.
If you see:
am + giving
is + giving
are + giving
you are probably describing an ongoing action.
Example:
She is giving a speech.
If you see:
has + given
have + given
had + given
you are using the past participle.
Example:
She has given a speech.
If you see was/were + given, the sentence may be passive.
Example:
The students were given extra time.
This quick check can help you identify the correct form.
American English vs British English
There is no significant difference between American and British English when it comes to the basic grammar of giving and given.
Both varieties use the same verb forms:
give → gave → given
give → giving
For example, both American and British speakers would say:
She has given me the information.
They would also say:
She is giving me the information.
The pronunciation may vary slightly depending on regional accents, but the grammatical rules remain essentially the same.
The differences between American and British English are more noticeable in other areas, such as vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation, rather than the use of giving and given.
Is “Given” Always About the Past?
Not necessarily.
Although given is a past participle, it does not always mean that something happened entirely in the past.
For example:
I have given him the information.
The action happened before now, but it may still be relevant to the present.
The word given can also be used in expressions such as:
Given the circumstances, we decided to leave.
Here, given means something like considering or taking into account.
Example:
Given the weather, the match may be canceled.
This means:
Considering the weather, the match may be canceled.
This is another important use of given that English learners should know.
FAQs
1. What is the difference between giving and given?
Giving is the -ing form of give, commonly used for ongoing actions or as a gerund. Given is the past participle, commonly used with has, have, and had and in passive constructions.
2. Is “given” the past tense of give?
No. The simple past tense is gave. Given is the past participle.
The forms are:
Give → Gave → Given
3. Is “I have gave” correct?
No. The standard correct form is I have given.
4. Is “I am giving” correct?
Yes. I am giving is the present continuous form and describes an action that is happening now or around the present time.
5. Can “giving” be a noun?
Yes. When used as a gerund, giving can function like a noun.
Example:
Giving is an important part of life.
6. Can “given” be used in passive voice?
Yes.
Example:
She was given a new opportunity.
Here, given is part of a passive construction.
7. Are giving and given different in British and American English?
No significant grammatical difference exists. Both American and British English use giving and given in essentially the same way.
8. What is an easy way to remember giving vs given?
Remember:
I am giving.
I have given.
The first uses giving for an ongoing action, while the second uses given as a past participle.
Final Summary
The difference between giving vs given is mainly about grammar and verb form. Giving is the -ing form of the verb give and is commonly used to describe an action in progress or to function as a gerund. For example, She is giving me advice describes an ongoing action, while Giving to others is rewarding uses giving as a noun-like gerund.
Given is the past participle of give and is commonly used with has, have, or had, as well as in passive constructions. For example, I have given him the book uses given in the present perfect, while He was given a chance uses it in the passive voice. Remember that gave is the simple past form, so the basic pattern is give → gave → given, with giving as the -ing form.
