When learning English, many learners struggle with Giving vs Given: because giving and given serve different functions and affect sentence meaning. Giving is the present participle of the verb give, showing an action that is ongoing, progressing, or happening continuously, while given is the past participle, used in passive constructions to indicate something provided or assumed. From my experience, understanding these forms improves fluency, clarity, and confidence in writing, speaking, and communication, helping learners recognize subtle differences that change sentence structure entirely.
Examples in emails, articles, writing, and speeches highlight how giving emphasizes action, practice, or something in progress, whereas given conveys established or acknowledged information. Paying attention to the roles, forms, and situations where each applies ensures correct usage. Mid-sentence, learners often hesitate, but knowing the rules, guide, and simple tricks makes choosing the right word more natural and less error-prone.
By combining a guide, clear rules, and practical examples, learners can confidently distinguish between giving and given in real situations. My experience shows that once learners internalize the differences, their writing, speaking, and understanding of English improve, making sentences stronger, more accurate, clearer, and confident. Recognizing how these forms interact within communication ensures that every sentence sounds natural while maintaining precise meaning.
Why “Giving” and “Given” Confuse So Many Learners
The confusion doesn’t come from carelessness. It comes from structure.
English verbs change form to show time, completion, and focus. The verb give has several forms, but giving and given feel especially slippery because they don’t always behave like verbs.
Sometimes they show action.
Sometimes they describe results.
Sometimes they act like adjectives or prepositions.
That flexibility makes them powerful. It also makes them easy to misuse.
Here’s the root problem most learners face:
- Both words come from the same verb
- Both can appear in long, complex sentences
- Both can exist without obvious time markers
- Both show up in spoken and written English constantly
Without a clear mental model, choosing between them feels like guessing.
The Verb Root That Explains Everything
Everything starts with the verb give.
English builds meaning by transforming verbs into different forms. Each form signals something specific about time, completion, or role in the sentence.
Here’s the full verb family:
| Form | Role | Example |
| give | base form | I give advice |
| gives | third person present | She gives feedback |
| gave | simple past | He gave permission |
| giving | present participle | They are giving support |
| given | past participle | Help was given |
Understanding giving vs given becomes easy once you understand what participles do.
- Giving shows action in motion
- Given shows action completed or assumed
That single distinction explains nearly every correct use.
What “Giving” Really Does in a Sentence
Giving is the present participle of give. It almost always emphasizes process, movement, or ongoing action.
Think of giving as energy in motion.
You use it when something is:
- Happening now
- Happening over time
- Repeated or continuous
- Actively unfolding
“Giving” as an Action Word
In many sentences, giving works as part of a verb phrase.
Examples:
- She is giving instructions.
- They were giving updates all morning.
- He keeps giving excuses.
The focus stays on the act itself, not the result.
“Giving” in Continuous Tenses
Continuous tenses exist to show that an action is not finished. That makes giving a natural fit.
Present Continuous: Action Happening Now
Use giving when the action is unfolding at this moment.
Examples:
- The manager is giving a presentation.
- She is giving directions to the team.
- The teacher is giving feedback right now.
These sentences feel alive because the action hasn’t ended yet.
Past Continuous: Action Happening in the Past
Past continuous describes an action that was in progress at a specific time.
Examples:
- He was giving a speech when the power went out.
- They were giving support during the crisis.
- She was giving advice all afternoon.
Again, the emphasis stays on the process, not the outcome.
Present Perfect Continuous: Action Still in Progress
This tense links the past to the present.
Examples:
- She has been giving lessons for ten years.
- They have been giving help since day one.
- He has been giving interviews all week.
In each case, giving highlights continuity.
“Giving” as a Gerund
Sometimes giving stops behaving like a verb and starts acting like a noun. This form is called a gerund.
Examples:
- Giving advice requires patience.
- Giving feedback helps teams grow.
- Giving too much information can overwhelm readers.
Notice something important.
You can replace giving with another noun and the sentence still works:
- Advice requires patience.
- Feedback helps teams grow.
That’s how you know giving functions as a noun here.
Natural Examples from Everyday English
Native speakers lean on giving for flow and rhythm.
You’ll hear phrases like:
- giving someone space
- giving it a try
- giving credit where it’s due
- giving it time
These expressions focus on action, not results. That’s why giving feels natural in speech.
Common Mistakes with “Giving”
Mistakes usually happen when writers confuse process with completion.
Mistake One: Using “Giving” for Finished Actions
Incorrect:
- The award giving was successful.
Better:
- The award given was successful.
Why? Because the award already exists. The action finished.
Mistake Two: Mixing Continuous Action with Results
Incorrect:
- She appreciated the advice giving.
Better:
- She appreciated the advice given.
Once appreciation enters the picture, the action is complete.
What “Given” Actually Means
Given is the past participle of give. It usually signals completion, result, or assumption.
Think of given as the finish line.
The action already happened. The focus now rests on what remains.
“Given” in Perfect Tenses
Perfect tenses connect past actions to present meaning.
Examples:
- He has given permission.
- She had given instructions earlier.
- They have given full approval.
In each case, given confirms that the action finished.
“Given” in Passive Voice
Passive voice shifts focus from who acted to what happened.
Examples:
- Instructions were given.
- Support was given immediately.
- Access was given to all members.
Here, given highlights the result, not the actor.
“Given” as an Adjective
This use surprises many learners.
Given can describe something as fixed, assumed, or accepted.
Examples:
- Given circumstances, we moved on.
- At any given moment, things can change.
- A given fact doesn’t need proof.
In these cases, given no longer acts like a verb. It works as a descriptor.
“Given” as a Preposition
This is one of the most advanced yet common uses.
Given can mean considering.
Examples:
- Given the weather, the event was canceled.
- Given his experience, the decision made sense.
- Given the data, the conclusion is clear.
This structure appears constantly in professional and academic writing.
Giving vs Given in Real Context
This comparison clears confusion fast.
| Situation | Correct Choice | Why |
| Action unfolding | giving | process matters |
| Action finished | given | result matters |
| Assumption | given | treated as fact |
| Description | given | adjective role |
| Ongoing effort | giving | continuous |
How to Choose Between Giving and Given
Ask one simple question.
Is the action still happening?
- Yes → giving
- No → given
If the sentence talks about assumptions, conditions, or fixed facts, given almost always wins.
Visual Decision Logic
- Ongoing action? → giving
- Completed action? → given
- Describing a condition? → given
- Acting as a noun? → giving
This mental shortcut works in nearly every case.
Memory Tools That Actually Work
Mnemonic
- Giving = moving
- Given = done
Analogy
Imagine handing someone a package.
- While your hands are moving, you’re giving.
- Once they hold it, it’s given.
That image sticks.
Common Errors and Fixes
| Incorrect | Correct |
| Thanks for giving advice earlier | Thanks for advice given earlier |
| The feedback giving helped | The feedback given helped |
| She acknowledged the help giving | She acknowledged the help given |
Practice Section
Choose the correct form.
- The instructions ___ were clear.
- He is ___ updates regularly.
- ___ the situation, we adjusted plans.
Answers:
- given
- giving
- given
Case Study: Giving vs Given in Real Speech
In conversation, people say:
- “Thanks for giving me a heads-up.”
In writing, people prefer:
- “Thanks for the heads-up given earlier.”
Speech favors action. Writing favors results.
Understanding that difference sharpens tone instantly.
Conclusion
Giving vs Given: comes down to recognizing their roles in a sentence. Giving shows ongoing action, while given indicates something already completed or assumed. By focusing on functions, forms, and real-life situations, learners can confidently choose the correct word, improve clarity, and make sentences sound natural in writing, speaking, and other forms of communication. Simple tricks, consistent practice, and paying attention to context make the distinction easy to master.
FAQs
Q1. What is the difference between giving and given?
Giving is the present participle of the verb “give,” showing ongoing action, while given is the past participle, used to indicate something provided, assumed, or completed.
Q2. When should I use giving in a sentence?
Use giving whenever you describe an action that is currently happening or in progress. For example: “She is giving a presentation right now.”
Q3. When should I use given in a sentence?
Use given to show something already provided, established, or assumed. For example: “Given the circumstances, we decided to postpone the meeting.”
Q4. Can giving and given be used interchangeably?
Not really. Giving and given serve different grammatical functions. Using them interchangeably can confuse meaning and make a sentence sound unnatural.
Q5. How can I remember when to use giving vs given?
A helpful trick is the he/she vs him/her swap. If “he/she” fits, use giving; if “him/her” fits, use given. This works for most sentences.
Q6. Is it acceptable to use giving instead of given in informal writing?
Yes. In casual emails, texts, and informal writing, people often use giving instead of given without confusing readers, but formal writing still prefers the correct form.
Q7. Why do learners often struggle with giving vs given?
Many learners struggle because English teaching emphasizes rules but not real-world usage. Mid-sentence positions and subtle differences in meaning make the choice tricky.
