Many English learners and even native speakers occasionally wonder whether taken or taking is the correct choice. The confusion usually arises because both words come from the verb take, yet they appear in different sentence structures and serve different grammatical purposes.
Choosing the wrong form can make a sentence sound awkward or grammatically incorrect.
The good news is that both “taken” and “taking” are correct, but they are not interchangeable. Each has a specific grammatical function and is used in different contexts. Understanding the difference will help you write and speak more naturally in everyday conversations, academic writing, business communication, and professional emails.
In this guide, you’ll learn what each form means, when to use it, common mistakes to avoid, and an easy way to remember the difference.
Quick Answer: Taken vs Taking
Both taken and taking are correct, but they are used differently. Taken is the past participle of the verb take and usually appears with helping verbs such as has, have, had, was, were, is, or been. Taking is the present participle (or -ing form) and is used in continuous tenses, as a gerund (noun), or as an adjective.
- Use “taken” when referring to a completed action with an auxiliary verb or in passive constructions.
- Use “taking” when describing an ongoing action, an activity, or a verb functioning as a noun.
Understanding “Taken” and “Taking”
Although both words originate from the verb take, they perform different grammatical jobs.
What Does “Taken” Mean?
Taken is the past participle of take.
It cannot normally stand alone as the main verb. Instead, it works with auxiliary verbs or appears in passive voice and participial phrases.
Examples:
- “She has taken the train to work.”
- “The photographs were taken yesterday.”
- “He had taken all the necessary documents.”
- “The seats have already been taken.”
- “I was taken by surprise.”
In these examples, taken refers to an action that has already been completed.
What Does “Taking” Mean?
Taking is the present participle (also called the -ing form) of take.
It has several important uses:
- forming continuous tenses
- acting as a noun (gerund)
- functioning as an adjective in some expressions
Examples:
- “She is taking notes.”
- “Taking regular breaks improves productivity.”
- “They were taking photographs all afternoon.”
- “He enjoys taking long walks.”
- “The company is taking applications.”
Unlike taken, taking often describes an action that is happening now or an activity in general.
The Main Difference Between Taken and Taking
The key distinction is grammatical rather than lexical.
| Term | Verb Form | Main Function | Best Used When | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taken | Past participle | Completed action, passive voice, perfect tenses | The action has been completed or is viewed from its result | “She has taken the exam.” |
| Taking | Present participle / Gerund | Ongoing action, continuous tense, noun | The action is happening now or refers to an activity | “She is taking the exam.” |
Notice how changing the form changes the sentence structure rather than the basic meaning of take.
Compare these examples:
- “He has taken the medicine.” (completed)
- “He is taking the medicine.” (ongoing)
The action is similar, but the time and grammatical construction are different.
When to Use Taken
Use taken whenever you need the past participle.
This usually happens in three situations.
1. Perfect Tenses
Perfect tenses always use a past participle.
Examples:
- “I have taken your advice.”
- “She has taken the opportunity.”
- “They had taken the wrong road.”
- “We have taken several courses together.”
- “The manager had already taken action.”
- “Have you taken the test yet?”
- “He has never taken responsibility.”
The helping verbs (has, have, and had) signal that the past participle is required.
2. Passive Voice
The passive voice also requires a past participle.
Examples:
- “The picture was taken last week.”
- “Several seats were taken before noon.”
- “The decision has been taken.”
- “My phone was taken accidentally.”
- “The samples were taken for testing.”
- “Every precaution was taken.”
- “The documents have been taken to the office.”
Here, the focus is on what happened to the subject rather than who performed the action.
3. Participial Expressions
Past participles can also function as modifiers.
Examples:
- “Completely taken by surprise, she couldn’t answer.”
- “Taken together, these results are encouraging.”
- “The route taken by the hikers was difficult.”
- “The path taken was shorter than expected.”
- “The approach taken by the researchers proved effective.”
In these cases, taken behaves almost like an adjective.
Common Uses of Taken
You’ll frequently encounter taken in fixed expressions and collocations.
Examples include:
- taken seriously
- taken into account
- taken for granted
- taken advantage of
- taken care of
- taken by surprise
- taken responsibility
Examples in sentences:
- “Your concerns will be taken into account.”
- “Good employees should never be taken for granted.”
- “The child was taken care of by relatives.”
- “She has taken responsibility for the mistake.”
- “I was completely taken by surprise.”
These expressions are extremely common in both spoken and written English.
When to Use Taking
Use taking whenever you need the -ing form of the verb.
It commonly appears in three major situations.
1. Continuous Tenses
Continuous tenses describe actions that are in progress.
Examples:
- “She is taking a shower.”
- “They are taking the bus today.”
- “I was taking notes during the lecture.”
- “We have been taking weekly lessons.”
- “The company is taking new orders.”
- “He will be taking the exam tomorrow.”
- “The children were taking turns.”
Here, the auxiliary verb (is, are, was, were, been, etc.) combines with taking to show an ongoing action.
2. As a Gerund
A gerund is an -ing verb functioning as a noun.
Examples:
- “Taking notes helps memory.”
- “Taking risks can lead to success.”
- “She enjoys taking photographs.”
- “Taking breaks improves concentration.”
- “He dislikes taking unnecessary chances.”
- “Taking responsibility builds trust.”
- “They discussed taking another route.”
In each sentence, taking names an activity rather than serving as the main verb.
3. As Part of Expressions
Many natural English expressions use taking.
Examples include:
- taking part
- taking action
- taking control
- taking advantage
- taking care
- taking turns
- taking responsibility
These expressions often describe actions that are currently happening or general activities.
Correct and Incorrect Examples
One of the easiest ways to master taken and taking is to compare correct and incorrect usage side by side. Most mistakes occur because learners confuse the past participle with the present participle.
| Incorrect | Correct | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| “She has taking the test.” | “She has taken the test.” | Perfect tenses require the past participle (taken). |
| “They are taken the bus.” | “They are taking the bus.” | Continuous tenses require the -ing form (taking). |
| “He enjoys taken photos.” | “He enjoys taking photos.” | After enjoy, use a gerund (taking). |
| “The photo was taking yesterday.” | “The photo was taken yesterday.” | Passive voice uses the past participle (taken). |
| “I have been taken notes.” | “I have been taking notes.” | Present perfect continuous uses taking. |
| “Taken regular breaks helps.” | “Taking regular breaks helps.” | The subject is a gerund, so taking is needed. |
| “The documents have taking.” | “The documents have been taken.” | Passive perfect requires been taken. |
A useful habit is to look for the helping verb. If you see is, are, was, were, am, be, been, being, ask yourself whether the sentence is continuous or passive. That answer will usually tell you whether you need taking or taken.
How Meaning Changes by Context
Although the grammatical difference stays the same, the choice between taken and taking appears in many different contexts.
Everyday Conversation
In daily speech, both forms are extremely common.
Examples:
- “I’m taking my dog for a walk.”
- “Have you taken your medicine?”
- “She’s taking a break.”
- “We’ve already taken care of it.”
Here, the speaker either describes an ongoing activity (taking) or a completed one (taken).
Business Communication
Professional writing often uses both forms.
Examples:
- “The company is taking applications.”
- “Appropriate measures have been taken.”
- “We are taking customer feedback seriously.”
- “The decision has already been taken by management.”
Passive constructions with taken are especially common in formal reports.
Academic Writing
In academic English, precision matters.
Examples:
- “Researchers are taking measurements every hour.”
- “Samples were taken from five locations.”
- “Students are taking part in the survey.”
- “Several factors were taken into consideration.”
Emails
Both forms appear naturally in workplace emails.
Examples:
- “I’m taking Friday off.”
- “Thank you for taking the time to reply.”
- “Your comments have been taken into account.”
- “We’re taking your suggestion seriously.”
Common Mistakes
Understanding common learner errors can help you avoid them.
Mistake 1: Using taking After have, has, or had
❌ “She has taking the keys.”
✅ “She has taken the keys.”
Why?
Perfect tenses always require the past participle.
Mistake 2: Using taken in Continuous Tenses
❌ “They are taken lunch.”
✅ “They are taking lunch.”
Continuous tenses always use the -ing form.
Mistake 3: Forgetting the Auxiliary Verb
❌ “She taken the exam.”
✅ “She has taken the exam.”
or
✅ “She took the exam.”
The past participle normally cannot function alone as the main verb.
Mistake 4: Confusing Passive and Continuous Forms
Compare these carefully:
- “The photographs were taken yesterday.” (Passive)
- “They were taking photographs yesterday.” (Past continuous)
Although the sentences look similar, they describe different grammatical structures.
Mistake 5: Using taken After Prepositions
After prepositions, English generally uses a gerund.
❌ “She is interested in taken photographs.”
✅ “She is interested in taking photographs.”
Other examples:
- good at taking notes
- tired of taking calls
- excited about taking the course
Related Verb Forms of Take
Learning the complete verb pattern makes the distinction even clearer.
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| Base verb | take |
| Third-person singular | takes |
| Past tense | took |
| Past participle | taken |
| Present participle | taking |
Example timeline:
- Present: “I take notes.”
- Past: “I took notes.”
- Perfect: “I have taken notes.”
- Continuous: “I am taking notes.”
Seeing all the forms together helps reinforce that taken and taking belong to different grammatical patterns.
Memory Trick
A simple memory trick can help you choose the correct form quickly.
Remember the Helping Verb
If you see:
- has
- have
- had
think:
➡ taken
Examples:
- “They have taken the train.”
- “She had taken the files.”
If you see:
- is
- am
- are
- was
- were
and the sentence describes an action in progress, think:
➡ taking
Examples:
- “She is taking the exam.”
- “We were taking pictures.”
Another easy reminder is:
- Taken = completed result
- Taking = action in progress or activity
This won’t explain every sentence, but it works for the vast majority of everyday situations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “taken” or “taking” grammatically correct?
Both are grammatically correct. Taken is the past participle of take, while taking is the present participle and gerund. The correct choice depends on the sentence structure rather than personal preference.
Can I say “has taking”?
No. “Has taking” is incorrect in standard English. After has, have, or had, use the past participle taken. For example, “She has taken the course.”
When should I use “taking”?
Use taking for continuous tenses, such as “They are taking a taxi,” and as a gerund, such as “Taking exercise every day improves health.”
Why does passive voice use “taken”?
Passive voice requires the past participle of the main verb. Since the past participle of take is taken, sentences like “The photo was taken yesterday” are correct.
Is there any difference between American and British English?
No significant regional difference exists. American, British, Canadian, and Australian English all use taken and taking according to the same grammar rules. The distinction is grammatical, not regional.
How can I remember the difference quickly?
Think about whether the action is completed or ongoing. Completed actions in perfect tenses and passive constructions usually require taken, while ongoing actions and activities require taking.
Taken vs Taking: Which Should You Use?
Choosing between taken and taking becomes much easier once you understand their grammatical roles. Taken is the past participle used in perfect tenses, passive voice, and certain participial expressions.
Taking is the present participle and gerund, used for continuous tenses and activities expressed as nouns. Neither form is more correct than the other—they simply serve different purposes.
Whenever you’re unsure, look at the helping verb and ask whether the sentence describes a completed action or one that is in progress. In most cases, that simple check will lead you to the correct choice.
Thomas Richardson is an English language writer dedicated to making grammar, vocabulary, and word comparisons simple, accurate, and easy for every learner.