Taken vs Taking: What Is the Difference? (Fix This Now)

If you have ever paused mid sentence wondering whether to write “I have taken” or “I have taking,” you are not alone. These two words come from the same root verb, “take,” yet they behave completely differently in a sentence.

The short answer: taking describes an action that is still happening or acts as a noun, while taken describes an action that is already finished or appears in passive sentences. Once you understand why, the choice becomes automatic.

This guide breaks the rule down using simple grammar logic, real world examples, comparison tables, and a short quiz so you can test what you learned.

Taken vs Taking: The Core Difference

Every confusion between these two words comes down to one question: is the action still moving, or is it already done?

• Taking is the present participle of “take.” It shows an action in progress, or it works as a noun (a gerund).
• Taken is the past participle of “take.” It shows a completed action and pairs with helping verbs like “have,” “has,” “had,” or forms of “be.”

A quick trick many teachers use: if you can put “is,” “am,” or “are” in front of the word and it sounds natural, you need “taking.” If “have,” “has,” or “had” fits better, you need “taken.”

• She is taking the bus. (action happening now)
• She has taken the bus already. (action finished)

Taken vs Taking Explained Clearly With Grammar Rules

English verbs change form depending on tense, voice, and function. “Take” is an irregular verb, so its forms do not follow the usual “-ed” pattern. Instead, English speakers rely on:

1. Tense markers such as “am/is/are” for continuous tenses and “have/has/had” for perfect tenses.
2. Voice — active voice uses the doer as the subject, while passive voice uses “be + taken” to shift focus to the receiver of the action.
3. Function — “taking” can double as a noun (a gerund), while “taken” almost never works as a noun.

Keeping these three factors in mind removes most of the guesswork.

Understanding the Verb “Take”

Meaning of “Take”

At its core, “take” means to get hold of something, to move something from one place to another, or to accept, receive, or perform an action. It is one of the most flexible verbs in English and appears in hundreds of idioms, from “take a break” to “take charge” to “take offense.”

Forms of “Take”

Like many irregular verbs, “take” does not follow a predictable pattern. Its five main forms are:

Form	Type	Example
take	base form	I take the train daily.
takes	third person singular	He takes notes quickly.
took	simple past	They took a taxi last night.
taken	past participle	She has taken the exam.
taking	present participle / gerund	We are taking a break.

Quick Summary of Grammatical Functions

Word	Type	Pairs With	Common Role
Taking	Present participle	am / is / are / was / were / been	Continuous tenses, gerund (noun)
Taken	Past participle	have / has / had, plus be verbs	Perfect tenses, passive voice

Taken vs Taking

Understanding Participles and Gerunds

A participle is a verb form that can act like an adjective or help build a verb tense. A gerund is a verb form ending in “-ing” that acts entirely like a noun. “Taking” can serve as either, which is exactly why it feels flexible in a sentence.

• Adjective use: The taking of photos is not allowed here. (acts like a noun phrase, technically a gerund)
• Verb tense use: She is taking a photo right now.

“Taken,” on the other hand, only functions as a past participle or an adjective. It never works as a standalone noun.

• The seat is taken. (adjective describing a state)
• He has taken the seat. (past participle in a perfect tense)

When to Use “Taking”

Use “taking” whenever the action is still in motion, ongoing, repeated, or being described as a general activity rather than a finished event.

“Taking” in Continuous (Progressive) Tenses

Continuous tenses always pair a form of “be” with the “-ing” form of the verb.

• Present continuous: I am taking a shower.
• Past continuous: We were taking photos when it started raining.
• Future continuous: She will be taking the exam next week.

“Taking” as a Gerund (Noun Form)

When “taking” functions as a noun, it can be the subject or object of a sentence.

• Taking risks is part of growing a business.
• He enjoys taking long walks after dinner.
• Your taking of responsibility mattered to the whole team.

Common Expressions with “Taking”

• Taking place (happening)
• Taking care of (looking after, in progress)
• Taking a chance
• Taking notes
• Taking turns
• Taking the lead

Quick Reference Table for “Taking”

Sentence Pattern	Example
am/is/are + taking	She is taking a break.
was/were + taking	They were taking a walk.
will be + taking	I will be taking the 9 a.m. flight.
Taking + noun (gerund subject)	Taking chances builds confidence.

When to Use “Taken”

Use “taken” whenever the action is already complete, or when the sentence needs a passive structure that shifts attention from the doer to the result.

“Taken” in Perfect Tenses

Perfect tenses pair “have,” “has,” or “had” with the past participle.

• Present perfect: I have taken two tablets already.
• Past perfect: She had taken the test before, but failed twice.
• Future perfect: They will have taken the exam by Friday.

“Taken” in the Passive Voice

In passive sentences, the subject receives the action instead of performing it. The structure is a form of “be” plus “taken.”

• The decision was taken quickly.
• Several precautions have been taken to ensure safety.
• The photo was taken at sunrise.

Common Expressions with “Taken”

• Taken aback (surprised)
• Taken for granted
• Taken care of (already handled)
• Taken by surprise
• Taken with (charmed or attracted by something)

Quick Reference Table for “Taken”

Sentence Pattern	Example
have/has + taken	He has taken the wrong turn.
had + taken	We had taken that route before.
will have + taken	She will have taken the course by June.
be + taken (passive)	The award was taken seriously.

Comparing “Taken” vs “Taking”

Common Confusions

Learners often mix these up because both words come from the same verb and sometimes appear close together in speech. The clearest fix is to check the helping verb sitting right before the word:

• If “have,” “has,” or “had” comes first, the correct word is taken.
• If “am,” “is,” “are,” “was,” or “were” comes first (and the sentence describes an ongoing action), the correct word is taking.

Tricky Pairs Explained

• He is taking the lead vs. He has taken the lead.
• They are taking action vs. Action has been taken.
• We are taking care of it vs. It has been taken care of.

In each pair, “taking” points to something still in motion, while “taken” points to a result that already exists.

Common Prepositions Used with Taken and Taking

• Taken by: shows the agent in a passive sentence or a feeling of attraction. Example: “The award was taken by the youngest contestant.”
• Taking from: shows something being removed from a source. Example: “She is taking books from the shelf.”
• Taken with: an idiom meaning charmed or impressed. Example: “He was quite taken with the new design.”
• Taking on: means accepting new responsibility. Example: “The team is taking on a bigger project this quarter.”

Active vs. Passive Voice with Taken and Taking

In active voice, the subject performs the action, so continuous active sentences usually rely on “taking.” In passive voice, the subject receives the action, and English almost always builds this with a “be” verb plus “taken.”

• Active, ongoing: The staff are taking inventory this week.
• Passive, completed: The inventory has been taken.

Real English in Action

Native speakers rarely stop to think about grammar rules mid conversation. Instead, they rely on rhythm and habit built from repeated exposure. Reading dialogue, watching interviews, and listening to podcasts are some of the fastest ways to internalize when “taken” or “taking” sounds natural, because the ear starts to catch the pattern before the brain has to reason through it.

Quick Grammar Hacks to Remember

• See “is/am/are” nearby? Think taking.
• See “has/have/had” nearby? Think taken.
• Need a noun form of the verb? Use taking.
• Building a passive sentence? Use taken.
• Unsure? Ask if the action is still happening (taking) or already done (taken).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Writing “I have taking” instead of “I have taken.”
• Writing “She is taken a shower” instead of “She is taking a shower.”
• Using “taken” as a standalone noun, such as “the taken of the photo” instead of “the taking of the photo.”
• Forgetting the helping verb entirely, such as “He taken the bus” instead of “He has taken the bus” or “He took the bus.”

Examples Section: Taken vs Taking in Sentences

1. She is taking an online course this semester.
2. The medicine has already been taken.
3. They were taking photos of the sunset when the storm rolled in.
4. His idea was taken seriously by the board.
5. Taking a break helped him focus better afterward.
6. I had taken that same road twice before I got lost.
7. We will be taking the early train tomorrow.
8. The measurements were taken with great care.
9. Are you taking notes during the lecture?
10. He was clearly taken aback by the news.

Self Assessment: Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with either “taken” or “taking.”

1. She is _____ a nap right now.
2. The decision has already been _____.
3. They were _____ pictures near the lake.
4. He has _____ the wrong exit twice this week.
5. _____ risks is part of running a business.

Self Assessment Answers

1. taking
2. taken
3. taking
4. taken
5. Taking

FAQs About Taken vs Taking

What’s the main difference between “taken” and “taking”?

“Taking” shows an ongoing action or works as a noun, while “taken” shows a completed action and appears in perfect tenses or passive sentences.

Can “taking” be used as a noun?

Yes. As a gerund, “taking” can act as the subject or object of a sentence, such as in “Taking chances builds confidence.”

When should I use “taken care of” vs “taking care of”?

Use “taken care of” when the task is already finished, and “taking care of” when it is currently in progress.

Is it correct to say “has taken place” or “is taking place”?

Both are correct depending on timing. “Has taken place” means the event already happened, while “is taking place” means it is happening now.

Which form is more common in everyday English?

“Taking” appears more often in casual speech because continuous tenses are common in daily conversation, while “taken” shows up more in formal writing, news reports, and passive constructions.

Final Conclusion

“Taken” and “taking” may share the same root, but they carry very different jobs in a sentence. Once you connect “taking” with ongoing action or noun use, and “taken” with completed action or passive voice, choosing the right word stops being a guessing game. Keep the helping verb trick in mind, practice with real sentences, and this pair will soon feel second nature.