Giving or Given: Which Is Correct?

Updated 2026-10-03 · Which One Is Correct editorial team

Quick answer: Both giving and given are correct English words, but they serve different grammatical functions. Giving is the present participle, showing an action happening now. Given is the past participle, indicating a completed action or a specific condition. Choosing the right one depends entirely on your sentence structure.

The Short Answer

Use giving when describing an active, ongoing process of providing something, and use given when referring to something that has already been provided or established as a fact. Both are standard English forms of the verb give.

People often confuse these forms because they stem from the same root word and relate to the same concept of transfer. The mix-up usually happens when writers forget to match the verb form with the required tense or voice in their sentence.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Form	Status	Use it when
Giving	Present Participle	Describing an action currently in progress or acting as an adjective for a generous person.
Given	Past Participle	Describing a completed action, a passive state, or setting a specific condition in a sentence.
Giving	Active Voice	The subject is performing the action of providing or donating.
Given	Passive/Adjectival	The object has received the action, or you are stating a premise.

Correct Example Sentences

She is giving a presentation on renewable energy sources to the board.
Given the heavy rain, we decided to postpone the outdoor wedding.
He is always giving helpful advice to his younger colleagues.
The gift was given to her on her twentieth birthday.
Giving blood is a simple way to help save lives.
Given his experience, he is the best candidate for the job.
They are giving their neighbors a ride to the airport.
The details were given in the initial contract signed last month.
She has a giving nature and loves to volunteer at shelters.
Given the circumstances, we should expect some delays in shipping.

Common Mistakes and Fixes

I am giving you the answer given you asked.: I am giving you the answer since you asked.
The money was giving to the charity yesterday.: The money was given to the charity yesterday.
Given that he is giving a speech, be quiet.: Since he is giving a speech, be quiet.
I have been given to think he is right.: I have been led to think he is right.
The giving instructions were confusing for the team.: The given instructions were confusing for the team.
He is given a chance to win every time.: He is given a chance to win every time.

A Quick Test You Can Use

Check if the subject is actively doing the providing right now; if so, use giving. If the action is complete, passive, or you are setting a premise like assuming a fact, use given. You can also try replacing the word with provided; if provided fits the past tense context, given is usually the correct choice.

Related Word Pairs

Lay vs Lie: Use lay when placing an object down; use lie when reclining yourself.
Who vs Whom: Use who as the subject doing the action; use whom as the object receiving it.
Affect vs Effect: Affect is usually a verb meaning to influence; effect is usually a noun meaning result.
Then vs Than: Use then for time sequences; use than for making comparisons between items.
Its vs It's: Use its for possession; use it's as a contraction for it is or it has.

More Example Sentences

The teacher is giving a lecture on classical poetry.
Given the lack of funds, the project was canceled.
She is giving her best effort to solve the puzzle.
The keys were given to the property manager this morning.
Given your expertise, we would value your opinion.
He is giving a tour of the historic downtown district.
The instructions were given clearly in the user manual.
Given the current weather, we should stay indoors.
She is giving a generous donation to the food bank.
The award was given to the most outstanding employee.

Quick Practice

I am you a piece of advice.

giving

the bad reviews, I still tried the restaurant.

Given

She is a speech at the conference.

giving

The prize was to the winner yesterday.

given

the traffic, we will be late.

Given

He is his dog a bath right now.

giving

Frequently Asked Questions

Can given and giving be used interchangeably?

No, they cannot be used interchangeably. Giving indicates an ongoing action or a generous character trait, while given refers to a completed action, a passive state, or a specific condition that has been established.

Is giving a noun or a verb?

Giving can function as both a verb and a noun. As a verb, it describes the act of providing something. As a noun, it often refers to a generous contribution or donation, such as a charitable giving.

What is the difference in meaning between given and givin?

Given is the correct standard English spelling for the past participle. Givin is an informal, non-standard spelling often used in text messages or casual social media posts to mimic pronunciation, but it should be avoided in formal writing.

How do you use given in a conditional sentence?

You use given to introduce a premise or assumption that affects the outcome. For example, you might say, given that it is raining, we should stay inside. This sets the condition for the following statement.