Have you ever hesitated between “giving or given” while writing a sentence? These two words come from the same verb, give, but they perform different grammatical jobs. Choosing the right one depends on the tense, sentence structure, and whether you are describing an action that is happening, continuing, or already completed.
The confusion is completely understandable because giving and given can both appear in sentences about providing, offering, or handing something to someone. However, they are not interchangeable. In this guide, we will explain the difference between giving or given, show clear examples, cover common mistakes, and help you confidently choose the correct form in everyday and professional English.
Quick Answer: Giving or Given?
Both giving and given are correct forms of the verb give, but they are used differently.
- Giving → the -ing form of give, usually used for an action in progress or as a gerund.
- Given → the past participle of give, commonly used with have/has/had or in passive constructions.
Simple Examples
She is giving me some advice.
She has given me some advice.
In the first sentence, the action is happening now or around the present time. In the second, the action has already happened.
Easy rule:
Giving = giving something / action in progress
Given = has/have/had given or something is given
What Does “Giving” Mean?
Giving is the present participle and gerund form of the verb give.
The base verb is:
give → giving
It describes the action of providing, handing, offering, or presenting something.
For example:
- She is giving me a book.
- They are giving free samples.
- He enjoys giving advice.
- Thank you for giving me this opportunity.
- We are giving customers more choices.
When giving functions as part of a continuous tense, it usually describes an action that is happening at or around a particular time.
Giving in the Present Continuous
The structure is:
am/is/are + giving
Examples:
- I am giving a presentation.
- She is giving her friend some advice.
- They are giving away free tickets.
- We are giving customers a discount.
Here, giving is part of the present continuous tense.
What Does “Given” Mean?
Given is the past participle of give.
The basic forms of the verb are:
give → gave → given
- Present: give
- Past: gave
- Past participle: given
Given is commonly used with have, has, or had:
- I have given him the information.
- She has given me permission.
- They had given us enough time.
It is also used in passive constructions:
- The award was given to the winner.
- The instructions were given yesterday.
- Permission was given by the manager.
Giving vs. Given: Comparison Table
| Word | Grammatical form | Common use | Example |
| Giving | Present participle / gerund | Continuous actions or noun-like use | She is giving me advice. |
| Given | Past participle | Perfect tenses and passive voice | She has given me advice. |
| Gave | Simple past | Completed past action | She gave me advice yesterday. |
| Give | Base form | Present, infinitive, commands | Please give me some advice. |
The most important distinction is that giving generally focuses on the action itself, while given usually indicates a completed action or passive construction.
Giving vs. Given in Different Tenses
Understanding verb tense makes the difference much easier.
Present Simple: Give
I give my employees regular feedback.
Present Continuous: Giving
I am giving my employees feedback right now.
Simple Past: Gave
I gave my employees feedback yesterday.
Present Perfect: Given
I have given my employees feedback already.
Past Perfect: Given
I had given my employees feedback before the meeting.
This pattern is worth remembering:
give → gave → given
and:
give → giving
When Should You Use “Giving”?
Use giving when the action is currently happening, continuing, or functioning as a noun.
1. An Action Happening Now
She is giving a speech.
The action of giving the speech is happening now.
2. A Continuing Activity
He is giving his team useful feedback.
The activity is ongoing.
3. After Certain Verbs and Prepositions
Giving can also function as a gerund:
Giving is better than receiving sometimes.
Here, giving acts like a noun.
Another example:
She enjoys giving advice.
4. After “For”
Thank you for giving me the opportunity.
After the preposition for, the -ing form is normally used.
When Should You Use “Given”?
Use given when you need the past participle of give.
1. With “Have,” “Has,” or “Had”
I have given him the documents.
She has given us permission.
They had given the information to the team.
2. In Passive Voice
The instructions were given to all employees.
The award was given to the winner.
Here, the recipient receives the action rather than performing it.
3. In the Expression “Given That”
Given that means considering the fact that.
For example:
Given that it was raining, we decided to stay home.
This is a slightly different use of given, but it is extremely common in formal and academic English.
4. Meaning “Considering”
Given can also mean considering a particular fact or situation.
Given the circumstances, we decided to postpone the meeting.
Here, given does not mean that someone physically handed something to someone. It introduces a condition or fact that should be considered.
Common Phrases With “Giving”
You will frequently see giving in expressions such as:
- giving advice
- giving information
- giving permission
- giving a speech
- giving a presentation
- giving an example
- giving support
- giving someone a chance
- giving someone an opportunity
- giving a warning
- giving feedback
- giving instructions
Examples:
She is giving a presentation tomorrow.
Thank you for giving me your feedback.
He is giving his team another opportunity.
Common Phrases With “Given”
Common expressions include:
- has given
- have given
- had given
- was given
- were given
- given that
- given the circumstances
- given the situation
- given the opportunity
- given enough time
Examples:
We have given the matter careful consideration.
She was given another opportunity.
Given the circumstances, this was the best decision.
Given enough time, the project should succeed.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Using “Giving” After “Have”
Because have often relates to something that happened in the past, learners sometimes write:
❌ I have giving him the documents.
The correct form is:
✅ I have given him the documents.
After have/has/had in perfect constructions, use the past participle given.
Mistake 2: Using “Given” for an Ongoing Action
❌ She is given a presentation right now.
If the person is currently performing the action, use giving:
✅ She is giving a presentation right now.
Mistake 3: Confusing “Gave” and “Given”
Remember that gave is the simple past, while given is the past participle.
✅ She gave me the book yesterday.
✅ She has given me the book already.
❌ She has gave me the book.
Mistake 4: Forgetting “-ing” After a Preposition
After a preposition such as for, use the gerund form:
✅ Thank you for giving me your time.
❌ Thank you for given me your time.
Giving or Given After “Thank You”?
This is a particularly common question.
The correct construction is:
Thank you for giving me your time.
Why? Because for is a preposition, and when a verb follows a preposition, English normally uses the -ing form.
Other examples include:
- Thank you for helping me.
- Thank you for giving me this opportunity.
- Thank you for supporting our project.
- Thank you for giving us your feedback.
So remember:
Thank you for + giving
not:
Thank you for + given
Giving or Given an Opportunity?
Both forms can be correct depending on the sentence.
Giving an Opportunity
The company is giving employees an opportunity to develop new skills.
Here, the company is performing the action.
Given an Opportunity
If given an opportunity, she will succeed.
Here, given appears in a passive construction.
You can also say:
He was given an opportunity to explain himself.
The person receives the opportunity, so given is correct.
American vs. British English
There is no significant difference between American and British English in the basic use of giving and given.
Both varieties use:
- giving as the present participle and gerund
- given as the past participle of give
For example:
She is giving a presentation.
and:
She has given a presentation.
are correct in both American and British English.
The grammatical distinction is therefore not a regional issue. It is primarily a matter of verb form and sentence structure.
How to Remember Giving vs. Given
A simple memory trick can make this distinction much easier.
Think of the complete verb forms:
Give → Gave → Given
Then remember:
Giving has -ing, so it commonly describes an action in progress or an activity.
Given is the past participle, so it commonly follows have, has, or had, or appears in passive constructions.
Quick Memory Examples
I am giving.
Action happening now.
I gave.
Completed past action.
I have given.
Completed action connected to the present.
It was given.
Passive construction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “giving” a correct word?
Yes. Giving is the present participle and gerund form of give. It can describe an ongoing action or function as a noun.
Is “given” the past tense of “give”?
Not exactly. Gave is the simple past tense, while given is the past participle.
The forms are:
give → gave → given
Should I say “I am giving” or “I am given”?
Use “I am giving” when you are performing the action.
Example: I am giving a presentation.
I am given is passive and means someone is giving something to you.
Example: I am given a new assignment every week.
Should I say “has given” or “has giving”?
The correct form is “has given.”
Example:
She has given me the information.
Is “thank you for giving” correct?
Yes. “Thank you for giving” is correct because for is a preposition and is followed by the -ing form.
What is the difference between “gave” and “given”?
Gave is the simple past form, while given is the past participle.
Example:
She gave me the book yesterday.
She has given me the book already.
Is “given” used in passive voice?
Yes. Given is commonly used in passive constructions.
Example:
The students were given extra time.
Are giving and given different in American and British English?
No major difference exists. Both American and British English use giving and given according to the same basic grammatical rules.
Summary
The difference between giving or given comes down to their grammatical roles. Giving is the present participle and gerund form of give, and it is commonly used for actions that are happening or continuing, as well as activities treated as nouns. Given, on the other hand, is the past participle and is commonly used with have, has, or had, in passive constructions, and in expressions such as given that and given the circumstances.
Remember the basic verb pattern: give → gave → given, while the -ing form is giving. If you see am/is/are, an action may require giving; if you see have/has/had, the perfect construction normally requires given. This simple pattern will help you avoid many common verb-form mistakes.
Actionable Takeaway
When you’re unsure whether to use giving or given, look at the words around the verb. For an action happening now, use giving: She is giving a presentation. For a completed action with have, has, or had, use given: She has given a presentation.
Keep this quick reference in mind:
give → present
gave → simple past
given → past participle
giving → -ing form
Once you recognize the tense and sentence structure, choosing between giving and given becomes much easier.
