Taken vs Taking is a grammar topic that confuses many English learners because both words come from the same verb, take, yet they are used in completely different situations. A small mistake between these two forms can change the meaning of a sentence and make your English sound less natural.
For example:
✅ I am taking an online course.
✅ I have taken an online course.
Both sentences are correct, but they describe different stages of an action. The first shows an action that is happening now, while the second refers to an action that has already been completed.
Many students struggle with this difference because they focus on the verb itself instead of the time and structure of the sentence. Once you understand the simple grammar rule behind taken and taking, choosing the correct form becomes much easier. In this guide, you’ll learn clear explanations, practical examples, common mistakes, and easy memory tricks to help you use these words confidently in both writing and conversation.
The Root of It All: Understanding the Verb “Take”
Before comparing taken and taking, we must understand their parent verb: take.
What Does “Take” Mean?
The verb take is extremely flexible. Depending on context, it can mean:
- To grab or hold something
- To receive something
- To choose or accept
- To capture (photos, notes)
- To experience (take a break, take a risk)
Examples:
- “Please take this book.”
- “I’ll take the red one.”
- “She took a deep breath.”
- “He takes responsibility seriously.”
Because take is so common, its different forms appear everywhere in English.
Forms of the Verb “Take” (Quick Overview)
| Verb Form | Example | Function |
| Base form | take | Present / infinitive |
| Past simple | took | Completed past action |
| Past participle | taken | Perfect tenses / passive |
| Present participle | taking | Continuous tenses / gerund |
The real confusion begins with the participles—taken and taking.
What Are Participles (and Why They Matter)?
A participle is a verb form that helps build tenses or describe actions.
Two Types of Participles:
- Present participle → ends in -ing (taking)
- Past participle → often ends in -ed, or is irregular (taken)
Participles are powerful because they can:
- Form verb tenses
- Act as adjectives
- Become nouns (gerunds)
Understanding this makes taken vs taking much easier.
When to Use “Taking” (Present Participle)
Taking shows an action that is:
- Happening now
- Still in progress
- Repeated or ongoing
4.1 “Taking” in Continuous (Progressive) Tenses
Use taking with helper verbs like am / is / are / was / were / will be.
| Tense | Sentence | Meaning |
| Present continuous | “I am taking notes.” | Happening now |
| Past continuous | “She was taking a shower.” | Happening in the past |
| Future continuous | “They will be taking classes.” | Ongoing in the future |
Rule: If the action feels unfinished or moving, use taking.
4.2 Timeline Visualization
- Yesterday: “I was taking pictures.”
- Now: “I am taking pictures.”
- Tomorrow: “I will be taking pictures.”
Same action. Different times. Still ongoing.
“Taking” as a Gerund (Verb Acting Like a Noun)
Here’s where many learners get confused.
Sometimes taking is not part of a verb tense—it’s a noun.
Examples:
- “Taking responsibility is important.”
- “She enjoys taking photos.”
- “Taking breaks improves focus.”
In these sentences, taking is the thing itself, not the action happening now.
Common Verbs Followed by Gerunds:
| Verb | Example |
| enjoy | “He enjoys taking walks.” |
| avoid | “She avoids taking risks.” |
| consider | “They’re considering taking the job.” |
| love | “I love taking pictures.” |
Test: If you can replace the phrase with “this activity”, it’s a gerund.
Everyday Expressions with “Taking”
Native speakers use taking in many fixed phrases.
| Expression | Meaning | Example |
| taking care of | responsibility | “She’s taking care of her parents.” |
| taking place | happening | “The event is taking place tonight.” |
| taking part in | participating | “He’s taking part in the race.” |
| taking advantage of | using opportunity | “She’s taking advantage of the offer.” |
These expressions almost always use taking when the action is ongoing.
When to Use “Taken” (Past Participle)
Taken shows an action that is:
- Completed
- Finished
- Already experienced
7.1 “Taken” in Perfect Tenses
Use taken with have / has / had / will have.
| Tense | Sentence | Meaning |
| Present perfect | “I have taken the test.” | Done recently |
| Past perfect | “She had taken the train.” | Done before another past action |
| Future perfect | “They will have taken the exam.” | Done before a future time |
If you see have, taken is your answer.
Taken” in Passive Voice
Passive voice focuses on what happened, not who did it.
Examples:
- “The photo was taken yesterday.”
- “All the seats were taken.”
- “My phone was taken by mistake.”
Here, the subject receives the action.
Tip: If something happened to the subject, use taken.
Idiomatic Expressions with “Taken”
Some meanings of taken are completely figurative.
| Expression | Meaning | Example |
| taken aback | surprised | “I was taken aback by the news.” |
| taken for granted | not appreciated | “She feels taken for granted.” |
| taken into account | considered | “Your opinion was taken into account.” |
| taken seriously | considered important | “His warning wasn’t taken seriously.” |
| taken by surprise | shocked | “They were taken by surprise.” |
These phrases almost never change form.
Taken vs Taking: Side‑by‑Side Comparison
| Feature | Taken | Taking |
| Verb form | Past participle | Present participle |
| Time focus | Completed | Ongoing |
| Used with | have / has / had / passive | am / is / are / was / were |
| Example | “I have taken notes.” | “I am taking notes.” |
Simple rule:
- Taking = happening
- Taken = finished
Common Confusions Explained Clearly
Taking care of vs Taken care of
- “I am taking care of the problem.” (in progress)
- “The problem has been taken care of.” (finished)
Taking place vs Taken place
- “The ceremony is taking place now.”
- “The ceremony has taken place already.”
Being taken vs Taking
- “My picture is being taken.” (passive)
- “I am taking a picture.” (active)
Real‑Life English Usage
In Movies & TV:
- “Everything has been taken from me.”
- “She’s taking a call right now.”
In Daily Conversation:
- “I’ve taken my medicine.”
- “He’s taking a short break.”
- “All tickets were taken.”
Spoken English prefers taking. Written English often uses taken.
Memory Hacks That Actually Work
🧠 Hack 1: Now vs Done
- Happening now → taking
- Already done → taken
🧠 Hack 2: Helper Verb Test
- am / is / are → taking
- have / has / had → taken
🧠 Hack 3: Visual Cue
- Taking → 🚶 motion
- Taken → ✅ finished
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ “I am taken notes.”
✅ “I am taking notes.”
❌ “He has taking my phone.”
✅ “He has taken my phone.”
❌ “The event is taken place.”
✅ “The event is taking place.”
Always check the helper verb—it reveals the correct form.
Practice Section (Try Before You Check)
Fill in the blanks:
- She is _______ a language course.
- He has _______ my advice seriously.
- The seats were _______ quickly.
- I am _______ notes during the lecture.
- The meeting has _______ place.
Answers:
- taking
- taken
- taken
- taking
- taken
ESL Case Study: Real Learning Example
Ahmed, an ESL student, often said:
❌ “I am taken online classes.”
After learning helper verbs, he corrected himself:
✅ “I am taking online classes.”
Later, he said:
❌ “I have taking three courses.”
Corrected to:
✅ “I have taken three courses.”
Within days, his confidence improved simply by identifying time + helper verb.
FAQs
Is “taken” the past tense of “take”?
No. Taken is the past participle form of take. The simple past tense is took.
Example:
- Past tense: I took the book yesterday.
- Past participle: I have taken the book.
When should I use “taking” in a sentence?
Use taking when an action is ongoing, in progress, or functioning as a gerund (verb acting as a noun).
Examples:
- She is taking a test right now.
- Taking notes helps students learn better.
How can I easily remember the difference between taken and taking?
A simple trick is:
- Taking = happening now or ongoing
- Taken = already completed
Examples:
- I am taking driving lessons.
- I have taken driving lessons before.
Can “taken” be used in passive voice?
Yes. Taken is commonly used in passive constructions.
Examples:
- The picture was taken yesterday.
- All the seats were taken before the show started
Is “I have taking” grammatically correct?
No. After have, has, or had, you must use the past participle taken.
✅ I have taken the exam.
❌ I have taking the exam.
Can “taking” be a noun?
Yes. When used as a gerund, taking acts as a noun.
Examples:
- Taking breaks improves productivity.
- Taking responsibility is a sign of maturity.
Why do English learners confuse taken and taking?
Because both words come from the same verb (take) and look similar. The confusion usually happens when learners are unsure whether the action is ongoing or completed.
Example:
❌ She has taking the course.
✅ She has taken the course.
Which helper verbs are used with “taking”?
Taking is commonly used with continuous tense helper verbs:
- am
- is
- are
- was
- were
- will be
Examples:
- I am taking notes.
- They were taking pictures.
Which helper verbs are used with “taken”?
Taken is commonly used with:
- have
- has
- had
- will have
It is also used in passive voice.
Examples:
- She has taken the test.
- The documents were taken by the manager.
Which is more common in everyday English: taken or taking?
Both are common, but taking appears more frequently in everyday conversations because people often discuss actions that are currently happening.
Examples:
- I’m taking a break.
- She’s taking a phone call.
What is the biggest mistake learners make with taken and taking?
The most common mistake is using the wrong form after a helper verb.
Examples:
❌ I am taken notes.
✅ I am taking notes.
❌ He has taking my pen.
✅ He has taken my pen.ng notes.”
❌ “He has taking my phone.” → Correct: “He has taken my phone.”
Always check the helper verb to choose the right form.
Conclusion
Understanding Taken vs Taking is an important step toward improving your English grammar and communication skills. Although both words originate from the verb take, their functions are very different. Taking is used when an action is ongoing or in progress, while taken is used when an action has already been completed or when forming perfect tenses and passive constructions.
Consider these examples:
✅ She is taking driving lessons this month.
✅ She has taken driving lessons before.
The first sentence describes a current activity, whereas the second highlights a completed experience.
The easiest way to remember the difference is to focus on the helper verb and the timing of the action. If something is happening now, taking is usually the right choice. If the action is already finished, taken is often the correct form. With regular practice and exposure to real-life examples, you’ll soon use both words naturally and avoid one of the most common grammar mistakes in English.
