English learners often struggle with knowing when to use “taken” versus “taking.” These two forms of the verb take can completely change the meaning of a sentence.
Understanding their nuances is key for writing and speaking clearly. This guide will break down the differences, provide practical examples, and give you tips to avoid mistakes.
Understanding the Base: “Take”
Before diving into “taken” and “taking,” it’s essential to understand the root verb take.
Take has several meanings depending on context:
- Grab or hold: I take the pen from the table.
- Accept or receive: She took the job offer yesterday.
- Experience or undergo: He will take a test tomorrow.
- Consume: I take medicine every morning.
Knowing these meanings helps you see how taking and taken evolve in sentences.
Participles Simplified
Both taken and taking are forms of participles, which are verb forms used to show ongoing action, completed action, or act as adjectives/nouns.
- Present participle (-ing) → taking
Shows ongoing action or acts as a noun (gerund).
Example: She is taking notes during class. - Past participle (-en) → taken
Shows completed action or is used in passive voice.
Example: The cookies were taken by the kids.
Understanding participles makes tense and voice much easier to grasp.
When to Use “Taking”
Taking is the present participle of take. It shows ongoing action or serves as a noun in some cases.
Taking in Continuous Tenses
Use taking for actions happening at the moment or around a period of time:
| Tense | Example |
|---|---|
| Present Continuous | I am taking a shower right now. |
| Past Continuous | She was taking a test when I called. |
| Future Continuous | They will be taking the exam at 10 AM. |
Tip: Continuous tenses always show that something is in progress.
Taking as a Gerund (Noun Form)
A gerund is a verb acting as a noun. Taking can describe an activity in general.
- Taking notes improves memory.
- Taking risks can lead to big rewards.
Here, taking is the subject of the sentence, not an action happening now.
Common Expressions with “Taking”
Some phrases with taking are fixed expressions that English speakers use every day:
- Taking care of → managing responsibilities
- Taking place → happening at a certain time
- Taking advantage of → using an opportunity or resource
Quick Table for “Taking” Expressions
| Expression | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Taking care of | Managing or looking after | She is taking care of her younger brother. |
| Taking place | Happening | The meeting is taking place at 3 PM. |
| Taking advantage of | Using an opportunity | He is taking advantage of the sale to buy shoes. |
When to Use “Taken”
Taken is the past participle of take. It often shows completed actions or forms the passive voice.
Taken in Perfect Tenses
Perfect tenses use taken to indicate actions that are complete:
| Tense | Example |
|---|---|
| Present Perfect | I have taken the test already. |
| Past Perfect | She had taken the opportunity before anyone else. |
| Future Perfect | By next week, they will have taken their seats. |
Tip: If the action is done and finished, taken is usually the correct choice.
Taken in Passive Voice
Passive sentences focus on the action’s receiver rather than the doer. Taken is common here:
- The book was taken by John.
- All the cookies have been taken.
Passive voice often makes sentences feel formal or emphasize the object rather than the subject.
Common Expressions with “Taken”
Fixed phrases with taken are also widespread:
- Taken care of → responsibility has been handled
- Taken place → an event has happened
- Taken aback → surprised or shocked
Quick Table for “Taken” Expressions
| Expression | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Taken care of | Handled or managed | The documents have been taken care of. |
| Taken place | Happened | The event has already taken place. |
| Taken aback | Shocked or surprised | I was taken aback by the sudden news. |
Common Confusions Between “Taken” and “Taking”
English learners often mix up similar expressions:
- Taking care of vs Taken care of
- Taking care of → currently managing → She is taking care of the kids.
- Taken care of → already managed → The kids have been taken care of.
- Taking place vs Taken place
- Taking place → happening now → The conference is taking place this afternoon.
- Taken place → already happened → The conference has taken place.
Quick Tip: Look at the timeline—present vs completed action.
Other Tricky Pairs and Nuances
- Taking advantage of vs Taken advantage of
- He is taking advantage of the free trial. (ongoing action)
- He has taken advantage of the offer. (completed action)
- Taking responsibility vs Taken responsibility
- She is taking responsibility for her mistake.
- She has taken responsibility for her mistake.
Context and tense are your best guides.
Frequency and Real-Life Usage
- Taking is more common in spoken English, especially with ongoing actions.
- Taken appears frequently in writing, formal communication, and perfect tenses.
- Learning both forms with expressions and phrases makes your English sound natural.
Practical Tip: Start by mastering common expressions like taking care of and taken care of—they appear daily in conversations.
Practical Tips to Remember the Difference
- Is the action ongoing? → Use taking
- Is the action completed or passive? → Use taken
- Flowchart reminder:
Action happening now? → Taking
Action completed? → Taken
Passive sentence? → Taken
- Mnemonic: “Taking is doing, Taken is done.”
Case Study: A Classroom Example
Imagine a teacher explaining assignments:
- I am taking the attendance right now. → action happening now
- The homework has been taken by the students. → completed action
- The class is taking place in Room 201. → ongoing event
- The last lecture has taken place already. → completed event
This shows how timeline and context determine the correct form.
FAQs
What is the difference between taken and taking?
Answer: Taking shows ongoing action or acts as a noun; taken shows completed action or passive voice.
Can “taking” be used as a noun?
Answer: Yes, as a gerund. Example: Taking notes helps you remember better.
When should I use “taken care of” vs “taking care of”?
Answer: Taking care of = currently managing; Taken care of = already managed.
Is it correct to say “has taken place” or “is taking place”?
Answer: Has taken place = event finished; is taking place = event ongoing.
Which is more common in daily English: taken or taking?
Answer: Taking appears more in conversation; taken is frequent in writing and perfect tenses.
Conclusion
Mastering taken vs taking comes down to understanding tense, voice, and context. Remember:
- Taking = ongoing action or noun (gerund)
- Taken = completed action or passive voice
- Learn common expressions like taking care of and taken care of for practical fluency.
- Use timelines in your mind to decide which form fits best.
With these tips, you can confidently use taken and taking in your writing and conversation.
Aiden Brooks is an educational writer dedicated to simplifying grammar for learners of all levels. He creates clear, practical explanations that help students read, write, and understand English with confidence.
