Giving or given

Many learners ask giving or given and wonder which word to use. Both words come from the verb give, but they play different roles. 

Giving is the present participle or gerund. Given is the past participle. Writers use them in different sentence patterns. This article explains when to use each form with clear examples. I mark parts of speech, check verbs, and give simple rules and tips.

Paragraph with parts-of-speech analysis

1. People often ask whether to use giving or given in a sentence.
2. The words look similar but act differently in grammar.
3. Giving works as a verb form and as a noun (gerund).
4. Given usually appears in perfect tenses or as an adjective.
5. Choosing the right form keeps sentences clear and correct.
6. In this article I explain rules, show examples, and give quick tests.

People often ask whether to use giving or given in a sentence

• Nouns: People, sentence
• Pronouns: none
• Verbs: ask (present plural; subject People is plural → correct)
• Adverbs: often (modifies ask)
• Prepositions: in (introduces a sentence)
• Conjunctions: whether (subordinating conjunction)
• Notes: Verb matches subject. Sentence is complete.

The words look similar but act differently in grammar

• Nouns: words, grammar
• Pronouns: none
• Verbs: look (present plural; subject The words → correct), act (present plural; subject The words → correct)
• Adjectives/Adverbs: similar (adjective), differently (adverb modifying act)
• Conjunctions: but (connects clauses)
• Notes: Agreement and tense correct.

Giving works as a verb form and as a noun (gerund)

• Nouns: verb form, noun, gerund
• Pronouns: none
• Verbs: works (third-person singular; subject Giving as a word or concept → correct)
• Prepositions: as (introduces roles)
• Notes: Giving functions as a gerund or present participle.

Given usually appears in perfect tenses or as an adjective

• Nouns: perfect tenses, adjective
• Pronouns: none
• Verbs: appears (third-person singular; subject Given → correct)
• Adverbs: usually (modifies appears)
• Conjunctions: or (joins roles)
• Notes: Verb tense correct.

Choosing the right form keeps sentences clear and correct

• Nouns: form, sentences
• Pronouns: none
• Verbs: Choosing (gerund subject), keeps (third-person singular; subject Choosing treated as single action → correct)
• Adjectives: right, clear, correct
• Notes: Agreement is correct.

In this article I explain rules, show examples, and give quick tests

• Nouns: article, rules, examples, tests
• Pronouns: I (subject)
• Verbs: explain, show, give (present tense; subject I → correct)
• Conjunctions: and joins verbs
• Notes: Sentence clear and verbs match subject.

— All verbs in the introduction match their subjects and use correct tense. Articles and prepositions are precise. No fragments or run-on sentences.

Quick overview: giving vs given in one line

• Giving: present participle / gerund of give. Use it for ongoing actions or as a noun.
  • Example: She is giving a talk. / Giving is kind.
• Given: past participle of give. Use it in perfect tenses, passive voice, or as an adjective.
  • Example: She has given her answer. / Given the facts, we will decide.

Forms of give: a short grammar map

• Base form: give
• Present participle / gerund: giving (give + -ing)
• Past simple: gave
• Past participle: given

Use giving for continuous action or as a noun. Use given for completed action (perfects) or adjectival phrases.

When to use giving

Present continuous / progressive

• Use giving with be forms to show an ongoing action.
  • She is giving a presentation now.
  • POS and verb check: She (subject), is giving (present progressive; is matches singular She), a presentation(object).

Gerund (verb used as noun)

• Giving can act like a noun.
  • Giving matters more than taking.
  • POS and verb check: Giving (gerund noun subject), matters (third-person singular verb agreeing with noun concept).

After certain verbs/prepositions

• Giving follows some verbs or prepositions as a clause starter.
  • She apologized, giving no reason.
  • POS and verb check: She (subject), apologized (past verb), giving (present participle starting subordinate clause).

Present participle in reduced relative clauses

• Use giving to shorten clauses.
  • Full: Who gives the money to the charity is generous.
  • Reduced: Giving money to charity, he improved his community. (Here Giving money to charity is participial phrase.)

When to use given

Perfect tenses (have + past participle)

• Use given with have/has/had.
  • They have given their consent.
  • POS and verb check: They (plural), have (plural auxiliary), given (past participle). Agreement correct.

Passive voice (be + past participle)

• Use given as part of passive forms.
  • The award was given to the winner.
  • POS and verb check: The award (subject), was given (passive past; was matches singular subject).

As an adjective or prepositional phrase starter

• Given introduces a condition or premise.
  • Given the weather, we canceled the trip.
  • POS and verb check: Given (past participle used adjectivally), the weather (object of participle), main clause follows.

As a past participle in reduced clauses

• Given can reduce relative clauses.
  • Full: The documents that were given yesterday are missing.
  • Reduced: The documents given yesterday are missing.
  • POS and verb check: documents plural → are missing plural verb.

Examples: side-by-side sentences with POS and verb checks

Action vs completed action

• She is giving a lecture this morning.
  • She (pronoun subject), is giving (present progressive), a lecture (object). Verb matches subject.
• She has given many lectures this year.
  • She (pronoun subject), has given (present perfect), many lectures (object). Verb matches subject.

Gerund vs past participle as modifier

• Giving honest feedback helps teams improve.
  • Giving (gerund subject), helps (verb), teams (object). Verb agrees.
• The feedback given by the manager was helpful.
  • The feedback (subject), given by the manager (past participle phrase), was (past verb singular). Agreement correct.

Reduced clauses

• Giving the map, she guided us. (participial clause)
  • Giving the map (present participle clause), she (main subject), guided (past verb).
• Given the map, she guided us. (past participial clause meaning “because she had the map”)
  • Given the map (adverbial past participle clause), she guided (main clause). Clear different nuance.

Adjective use

• The act of giving is rewarding.
  • The act (noun), of giving (prepositional gerund phrase), is (linking verb), rewarding (adjective).
• Given the budget, we must cut costs.
  • Given (adjectival past participle meaning “considering”), the budget (noun), we must cut (main clause).

Common mistakes and how to fix them

1. Mistake: Using given instead of giving for ongoing action
   • Wrong: She is given a speech now.
   • Fix: She is giving a speech now.
   • Note: is given would mean passive — someone gives her a speech, which is odd.
2. Mistake: Using giving where a past participle is needed
   • Wrong: The tests giving yesterday were hard.
   • Fix: The tests given yesterday were hard.
   • Note: given shows completed action.
3. Mistake: Confusing gerund as noun with past participle adjective
   • Wrong: The giving man was praised. (ambiguous)
   • Better: The generous man was praised. or The man who gives is praised.
   • Note: giving as adjective often causes awkwardness.
4. Mistake: Misplacing given as a standalone preposition
   • Wrong: Given that he is late but still we go. (run-on)
   • Fix: Given that he is late, we will still go. or Because he is late, we will still go.
   • Note: Use commas and correct clause structure.
5. Mistake: Treating given as same as considering without punctuation
   • Wrong: Given the time we must hurry.
   • Fix: Given the time, we must hurry. or Considering the time, we must hurry.
   • Note: Add comma for clarity.

American vs British English: any difference?

• giving vs given usage is the same in American and British English.
• Differences are minor: spelling, idioms or collocations may vary (e.g., given + noun set phrases). But grammar rules on participles hold across dialects.
• Choose clarity over dialect: use commas with given clauses where needed.

Idiomatic expressions with given and giving

• Given that — means considering that.
  • Given that she is new, she learned fast.
• Given up — to stop trying (phrasal verb).
  • He has given up smoking.
• Given to (adjective phrase meaning inclined to)
  • He is given to exaggeration.
• Giving back — return something.
  • She is giving back the book.
• The joy of giving — common phrase around charity/holidays.

Practical tips and quick tests

1. Use the he/him test? — Not applicable here. Instead use tense test. Ask: Is the action ongoing or completed?
   • Ongoing → giving (use be + giving or gerund).
   • Completed or passive → given (use with have/has/had or be + given).
2. Is it acting like a noun?
   • If yes, giving may be correct: Giving helps others.
   • If it’s describing something already done, given is likely correct: The money given was refunded.
3. Is the phrase a preface like Given the circumstances, ?
   • Use Given and follow with comma.
4. Look for auxiliaries:
   • has/have/had + given → completed action.
   • is/are/was/were + giving → progressive action (ongoing).
5. Avoid awkward forms:
   • Prefer clarity: She gave the gift (simple past) if action completed and subject known.

Rewriting for clarity: before and after

Original messy: “Given she giving the talk is good.”

• Problems: wrong forms and poor grammar.

Rewritten options:

• Given that she is giving the talk, we will attend.
  • Given (adjectival past participle introducing clause), that (subordinator), she is giving the talk (present progressive clause), we will attend (main clause).
• Since she is giving the talk, we will attend. (Alternative using since.)

Original messy: “Giving to charity given by many people.”

• Problems: wrong structure; unclear.

Polished: “Giving to charity is popular; many people have given before.”

• Clear separate clauses; verbs agree.

Original messy: “The report is given and giving few options.”

• Problems: confused participles.

Polished: “The report has been given, and it offers few options.”

• Passive perfect + clear main clause.

Practice exercises (with answers)

Choose giving or given.

1. She has _____ her time to the cause.
2. _____ her experience, she will lead the team.
3. They are _____ a live demonstration now.
4. The documents _____ yesterday were signed.
5. _____ the deadline, we must hurry.

Answers:

1. given — She has given her time (present perfect).
2. Given — Given her experience (considering).
3. giving — They are giving a live demonstration now (present progressive).
4. given — The documents given yesterday (past participle modifier).
5. Given — Given the deadline, we must hurry. (adverbial past participle clause)

Conclusion

Giving or given depend on time and function. Use giving for ongoing actions or as a noun (gerund). Use given for completed actions, passive voice, or when introducing a condition (given that). Check auxiliary verbs and clause structure. Read your sentence aloud. If the action is happening now, choose giving. If the action is done or you are talking about a result or condition, choose given. Keep sentences short and clear, and add commas with given clauses when needed.

FAQs

1. Can I use given at the start of a sentence? Yes. Given can introduce a clause: Given the rain, we stayed home. Add a comma.

2. Is giving always active? Usually. It shows ongoing action or acts as a noun. Giving is not used as past participle.

3. Can given be an adjective? Yes. Given the facts or the given conditions.

4. Which is correct: “I am giving the book” or “I have given the book”? Both can be correct. I am giving shows action now. I have given shows action is complete.

5. Is “given to” a phrase? Yes. Given to can mean “inclined to” (adjective) or be passive of give.

6. Can given appear without auxiliary? Yes, in reduced clauses: The gifts given last week are gone.

7. Is punctuation important with given clauses? Yes. Use comma after introductory Given phrase for clarity.

8. Can giving begin a sentence? Yes, as gerund: Giving is better than receiving.

9. Are there dialect differences between AmE and BrE? Not for these participles. Both dialects follow same grammar rules.

10. Quick test to choose? Ask: ongoing action? → giving. Completed/past or passive or condition? → given.