Giving or

Many English learners often stumble when deciding between giving and given, and this small detail makes a big impact in grammar. The phrase Giving vs. Given perfectly represents the struggle of understanding when to apply each form correctly while maintaining fluency and accuracy in daily usage. Even advanced speakers can pause before choosing the right words, and as a teacher, I’ve seen my students face this same confusion.

Creating a simple guide made it clear and practical for them to learn the correct rules, turning hesitation into confidence.Over years of teaching, I’ve realized that learning through realworldapplications, familiar idioms, and effective memorytricks truly helps learners master both forms more confidently.

When something is happeningnow, we use giving, while given applies to actions that have alreadyhappened or been completed. These small differences, once understood, make communicationsmoother and more natural, transforming tricky grammar points into easy habits.

Understanding the Core Difference

At their core:

• Giving is the present participle of the verb give. It expresses ongoing or continuous action.
• Given is the past participle of give. It refers to completed actions, conditions, or assumptions.

Think of it like this:

Word	Function	Quick Definition	Example
Giving	Present participle / gerund	Showing an action in progress or continuous	“She is giving advice.”
Given	Past participle / adjective / preposition	Showing an action already completed, or a condition/assumption	“He has given his best.” / “Given the weather, we stayed inside.”

👉 In short: ing = in progress while en = ended.

Giving in English Grammar

Role in Continuous Tenses

The word giving shows that something is happening right now or was happening at a certain time.

• Present continuous:
  • “She is giving a speech at the conference.”
  • “I’m giving my full attention to this task.”
• Past continuous:
  • “They were giving instructions when the power went out.”
    “He was giving money to charity during his college years.”
• Future continuous:
  • “I’ll be giving a presentation next week.”
  • “She’ll be giving classes throughout the summer.”

Notice how giving always keeps the action alive and ongoing.

Perfect Continuous Uses

In perfect continuous forms, giving stretches an action across time.

• Present perfect continuous:
  • “He has been giving advice for years.”
  • “We have been giving our time to the project since January.”
• Past perfect continuous:
  • “They had been giving support before the system changed.”
  • “I had been giving lessons long before I got certified.”

These tenses emphasize not just action, but duration.

NonTense Uses of Giving

Giving isn’t always about tense. Sometimes, it acts as a gerund or becomes part of phrasal verbs.

• As a gerund (noun form of verb):
  • “Giving is better than receiving.”
  • “She enjoys giving without expecting anything back.”
• Phrasal expressions:
  • Giving up (surrender): “After hours of trying, she ended up giving up.”
  • Giving in (yielding): “He avoided giving in to the pressure.”
  • Giving back (returning): “The foundation is focused on giving back to the community.”

These uses go beyond grammarthey reflect culture, idioms, and everyday language.

Given in English Grammar

Role in Perfect Tenses

When you hear given, think of something already handed over, completed, or agreed upon.

• Present perfect:
  • “She has given her word.”
  • “They have given permission to start.”
• Past perfect:
  • “He had given all his energy before the final round.”
  • “By the time I arrived, they had given away the tickets.”
• Future perfect:
  • “By tomorrow, I will have given notice.”
  • “By next year, we’ll have given enough support to complete the project.”

Here, given closes the door on the actionit’s finished.

Passive Voice Constructions

Given also shines in the passive voice.

• “The award was given to her.”
• “A new opportunity was given to the students.”
• “No clear instructions were given before the test.”

In passive voice, given highlights the receiver of the action rather than the doer.

Given as an Adjective

Sometimes, given no longer acts like a verb but like a descriptive word.

• “It’s a given fact that water boils at 100°C.”
• “He finished the work within the given time.”
• “The given resources were enough to solve the issue.”

Here, given means specific, assigned, or assumed.

Given as a Preposition

As a preposition, given introduces conditions or reasons.

• “Given the circumstances, we had no choice.”
• “Given his experience, he was the best candidate.”
• “Given her age, she’s remarkably active.”

This usage is extremely common in formal English, especially in writing and professional communication.

Alternative Meanings and Idiomatic Expressions

Both giving and given appear in countless idioms and everyday expressions.

Common Collocations with Giving

• Giving birth: “She is giving birth at the hospital today.”
• Giving thanks: “We are giving thanks this Thanksgiving.”
• Giving someone a hand: “He is giving me a hand with the luggage.”

Common Collocations with Given

• Given name: First name (opposite of family name).
• It’s a given: Something assumed as true.
• Given that…: Used to introduce reasons or conditions.

Idioms anchor these words in culture, not just grammar.

Practical Comparison: Giving vs. Given

The most effective way to understand the difference is through direct comparison.

Function	Giving	Given
Tense role	Present/continuous	Past/perfect
Active/Passive	Active, ongoing	Completed, often passive
Example	“She is giving a lecture.”	“The lecture was given yesterday.”
Other roles	Gerund: “Giving is good.”	Adjective: “A given fact” / Preposition: “Given the weather…”
Tone	Shows activity in progress	Shows result, completion, or assumption

👉 Diagram idea: Picture a timeline.

• Giving = moving arrow (action in progress).
• Given = dot (action done, result achieved).

Tips to Remember Correct Usage

Memory tricks can save you from hesitation.

• Think endings:
  • ing = still happening.
  • en (as in given) = ended, finished.
• Mnemonics:
  • Giving is living → ongoing, continuous.
  • Given is written → completed, recorded.
• Practice tip: Swap in doing vs. done. If doing fits, use giving. If done fits, use given.

Common Mistakes Learners Make

Even experienced learners mix these two up. Here are the top slipups:

• Mistake 1:
  ❌ “He has giving his books away.”
  ✅ “He has given his books away.”
• Mistake 2:
  ❌ “She is given a lecture right now.”
  ✅ “She is giving a lecture right now.”
• Mistake 3:
  ❌ “It’s giving that water boils at 100°C.”
  ✅ “It’s a given that water boils at 100°C.”

Correcting these mistakes comes down to understanding whether the action is still happening or already done

Case Study: Learning Through Real Sentences

Let’s apply this to two learners.

• Maria (B2 learner):
  She often said, “I am given my best.” After correction, she learned it should be “I am giving my best.” Once she linked ing with active effort, she stopped confusing the two.
• Ahmed (C1 learner):
  He overused giving in writing. Instead of “It’s a given fact,” he wrote “It’s a giving fact.” A simple memory trick (given = assumption) fixed the habit.

Real learners succeed by practicing in context, not memorizing rules alone

Conclusion

Understanding Giving vs. Given is more than a grammar exercise—it’s a key to speaking and writing English with precision and confidence. Both words share the same root but serve different purposes, and that’s where many learners stumble. By focusing on their distinct roles, you can eliminate confusion and choose the correct form naturally. Giving usually expresses an ongoing action or generosity in real time, while given reflects something already done or established. These differences might appear minor, but they create clarity and impact in every sentence.

When you practice with real-life examples, idioms, and memory tricks, these words become easy to apply without hesitation. Keep reading, writing, and speaking regularly—it’s the best way to internalize their usage. As you continue, you’ll notice how effortlessly these forms fit into your communication. Mastery doesn’t come overnight, but steady learning makes a lasting difference. With patience and attention, you’ll speak and write more accurately, expressing ideas with fluency and grace. Remember, it’s not just about grammar—it’s about confidence, understanding, and the ability to convey meaning effectively.

FAQs

 What’s the main difference between “giving” and “given”?

 “Giving” shows a present or continuous action, while “given” refers to something already done or received.

 Why do learners confuse these words?

 Because they look similar but function differently in grammar and time reference.

 How can I remember when to use “given”?

Think of “given” as something finished or already decided.

 Is “giving” only used as a verb?

No, it can also act as a noun, like in “the act of giving.”

 Can I use “given” in formal writing?

 Yes, it’s common in both formal and academic contexts.

 What’s a simple example using both words?

“She is giving her time to others,” and “She has given her time already.”

 How can I practice these forms effectively?

Use short daily writing or speaking exercises focusing on tense.

Are there idioms that use “given”?

 Yes, such as “Given the situation,” meaning “considering the situation.”

 Do native speakers struggle with this difference?

 Sometimes, especially when switching tenses quickly.

 What’s the best tip to master both?

 Read and listen actively—seeing real examples helps you remember naturally.