Giving or Given? How to Use Each Correctly (With Clear Examples)

Many English learners struggle to use giving and given correctly. Giving or Given? When to Use Each (With Examples) explains their functions and distinct roles in sentences, helping students grasp patterns naturally and confidently. Giving is the present participle, showing an action in progress, describing what’s happening now or continuously, like in “She is giving a presentation.” Meanwhile, given is the past participle, often used in passive constructions to indicate what was provided or assumed, as in “The award was given.” Recognizing th

ese subtle differences prevents confusion and improves writing and speaking.

In grammar classes, I emphasize the importance of following rules and practical examples. Words that appear similar can function differently, so hands-on practice with real-life situations is key. Choosing the right word automatically makes communication clearer and more accurate. Using tools, solid examples, and repeated practice, fluent non-native speakers can avoid mistakes and master giving and given in both active and passive contexts, turning this knowledge into second nature.

Understanding “Giving”

“Giving” is the present participle of give. It is an active form, often used to describe ongoing or continuous actions. Unlike “given,” which frequently appears in passive or completed contexts, giving conveys that something is happening right now or over a period of time.

For example:

• “I am giving my friend a gift for her birthday.”
  Here, the action is ongoing. You are actively doing the giving.

Present Continuous Usage of “Giving”

The present continuous tense uses giving with the structure:
Subject + am/is/are + giving

Examples:

• “She is giving a lecture on modern art.”
• “We are giving donations to the local shelter.”

Tips:

• Use giving when the action is happening right now or around this time.
• Avoid using giving in formal statements about completed actions—that’s when “given” is correct.

Past and Perfect Continuous Forms

“Giving” is also used in past continuous and perfect continuous tenses to indicate ongoing past actions.

Past continuous:

• Structure: Subject + was/were + giving
• Example: “He was giving a speech when the power went out.”

Perfect continuous:

• Structure: Subject + has/have/had + been + giving
• Example: “She has been giving her students extra tutorials all week.”

These forms highlight duration and ongoing nature rather than completion.

Common Mistakes with “Giving”

Many learners confuse giving with given in passive contexts. For example:

Incorrect: “The award is giving to her yesterday.”
Correct: “The award was given to her yesterday.”

Remember: giving is never used for completed actions in passive voice.

Understanding “Given”

“Given” is the past participle of give. Its usage is more versatile than “giving” because it can function as a past participle, adjective, or preposition.

• As a past participle, it often appears in perfect tenses and passive constructions.
• As an adjective, it conveys something specified or assumed.
• As a preposition, it introduces a condition or consideration.

“Given” in Perfect Tenses

Perfect tenses indicate completed actions. This is where given is essential.

• Present perfect: have/has + given
  • “She has given all her notes to the team.”
• Past perfect: had + given
  • “By the time I arrived, he had given the instructions.”

The key difference: giving = ongoing, given = completed action.

“Given” as an Adjective

“Given” can describe something specified or assumed. It’s common in formal English.

Examples:

• “Under the given circumstances, we cannot approve your request.”
• “Given the facts, her conclusion makes sense.”

Tips:

• In informal speech, you might rephrase to “considering” or “based on.”
• It often signals reasoning or condition in a sentence.

“Given” as a Preposition

When used as a preposition, given introduces a situation or assumption.

Examples:

• “Given the current situation, we should postpone the event.”
• “Given his experience, he is the best choice for the role.”

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing given with because of or due to in casual speech. Both can work, but given has a more formal tone.

Using “Given” in Passive Voice

In passive constructions, given replaces the active giving.

• Structure: Subject + be + given
• Examples:
  
  • “The prize was given to the winner yesterday.”
  • “Instructions have been given to all participants.”

Notice how giving cannot replace given here.

Comparative Examples: Giving vs. Given

Here’s a side-by-side comparison to clarify the difference:

Sentence	Correct Form	Explanation
I am giving him the book.	Giving	Ongoing action, active
The book was given to him.	Given	Completed action, passive
She has given me advice.	Given	Action completed in past
She is giving me advice.	Giving	Action happening now
Under the given circumstances, we must wait.	Given	Adjective usage
Given the weather, the event was canceled.	Given	Prepositional usage

Practical Tips to Remember When to Use “Giving” vs. “Given”

• Think about the timing of the action.
  • Ongoing → giving
  • Completed → given
• Check the voice of the sentence.
  • Active → giving
  • Passive → given
• Consider context.
  • Formal, conditional, or specified → given
• Memory trick:
  • “I am giving” → I am doing it now
  • “It was given” → It has already happened

Quick Examples:

• “I am giving a lecture.”
• “The lecture was given last week.”
• “Given the data, the results are reliable.”

Common Errors and How to Avoid Them

1. Using giving in passive voice:
   • “The instructions are giving to students.”
   • “The instructions are given to students.”
2. Confusing continuous vs. perfect tenses:
   • “She has giving her feedback all day.”
   • “She has been giving her feedback all day.”
3. Overusing “given” in casual speech:
   • Formal: “Given the circumstances, we acted wisely.”
   • Casual: “Since it was raining, we stayed inside.”
4. Mixing adjective and participle forms:
   • “He is given a good player.” (sounds like passive)
   • “He is a given player in the team.” (adjective usage)

Case Study: Common Misunderstandings

Consider this scenario in a business email:

“We are giving the reports to all departments.”
“We have given the reports to all departments.”

• First sentence = action happening now or over a short period.
• Second sentence = action completed before sending the email.

Similarly, in formal recommendations:

“Given the client’s feedback, we need to revise the proposal.”

Here, “given” is not a verb. It signals consideration of the client’s input.

Conclusion

Understanding the difference between giving and given is essential for any English learner aiming to improve writing and speaking. Giving is the present participle, showing an ongoing action happening now or continuously, while given is the past participle, used in passive constructions to indicate something already provided or assumed.

By recognizing patterns, practicing with real-life examples, and using hands-on tools, students can grasp these distinct roles and make their communication clearer and more accurate. With consistent practice, using giving and given correctly becomes automatic and natural, whether in active or passive contexts.

FAQs

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

Giving is the present participle, showing an action in progress, while given is the past participle, often used in passive constructions to indicate something already done or assumed.

2. Can giving and given be used interchangeably?

No. They function differently in sentences. Giving emphasizes ongoing action, whereas given reflects a completed action.

3. How can I practice using giving and given correctly?

Use hands-on tools, real-life examples, and repeated practice in both active and passive grammar exercises to grasp their distinct roles.

4. Are there common mistakes learners make with giving and given?

Yes, learners often confuse giving and given in similar sentences. Failing to recognize the subtle differences can lead to confusion and incorrect usage.

5. Why is it important to understand giving and given?

Understanding these words improves fluency, writing, and speaking, helping students communicate clearly, accurately, and confidently.