Last updated on September 26th, 2025 at 01:52 pm
English verbs can be tricky, especially when they change form. The verb “take” often confuses learners because it appears in many variations—take, took, taken, taking. Out of these, the pair “taken” and “taking” cause the most trouble.
Should you say “She is taking notes” or “She has taken notes”? Is it “The event is taking place” or “The event has taken place”? These small differences change the meaning completely.
This guide will break down taken vs taking in a way that finally makes sense. You’ll see grammar rules, real-world examples, idioms, tables for clarity, and even memory tricks to help you remember the difference.
Understanding the Grammar Basics of “Taken” vs “Taking”
Before diving into usage, it helps to understand what’s happening grammatically.
What Does “Take” Mean?
At its core, take means to get, hold, or accept something. But in English, it stretches into dozens of meanings:
- To grab or receive: Take this book.
- To capture: The army took the city.
- To travel by a method: She takes the bus every day.
- To spend or require time: The test takes an hour.
- To accept or handle something: I can’t take the pressure.
This flexibility is why “taken” and “taking” appear everywhere.
Participles Explained Simply
English verbs have different forms called participles:
| Form | Example | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Present participle | taking | Used in continuous tenses and as a gerund |
| Past participle | taken | Used in perfect tenses and passive voice |
Think of it this way:
- Taking = happening now, in progress
- Taken = already done, completed
When to Use “Taking”
“Taking” is the present participle of “take.” It shows ongoing action, or it works as a noun (a gerund).
Taking in Continuous Tenses
“Taking” helps build continuous tenses that describe something happening right now or over a period.
- She is taking photos of the sunset.
- They were taking notes during the lecture.
- I will be taking a course this summer.
Here, “taking” shows action in progress.
Taking as a Gerund (Noun Form)
Sometimes “taking” acts like a noun. This form is called a gerund.
- Taking risks is part of success.
- He enjoys taking long walks.
- Your taking of responsibility matters to the team.
Notice how “taking” functions as the subject or object in these sentences.
Common Expressions with “Taking”
English is full of set phrases with “taking.” Here are a few important ones:
- Taking charge – She is taking charge of the meeting.
- Taking part – He’s taking part in the marathon.
- Taking responsibility – They’re taking responsibility for the mistake.
- Taking time – It’s taking longer than expected.
These idioms use “taking” to show ongoing involvement.
Quick Reference Table for “Taking”
| Role | Example Sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Continuous tense | He is taking the bus. | Action happening now |
| Gerund | Taking care of pets is rewarding. | Action as a noun |
| Expression | She’s taking charge. | Idiomatic phrase |
When to Use “Taken”
“Taken” is the past participle of “take.” It shows completed action or something received.
Taken in Perfect Tenses
“Taken” appears in perfect tenses when action is completed at some point.
- She has taken the medicine.
- I had taken the wrong train before I realized.
- They will have taken the exam by Friday.
Each example shows something finished or accomplished.
Taken in Passive Voice
“Taken” often appears in passive sentences, where the subject receives the action.
- The photo was taken yesterday.
- Her idea was taken seriously.
- Several measures were taken to ensure safety.
Here, focus shifts from the person doing the action to the result.
Common Expressions with “Taken”
Like “taking,” “taken” has its own idioms.
- Taken aback – I was taken aback by her honesty.
- Taken for granted – Don’t let your kindness be taken for granted.
- Taken into account – Your feedback will be taken into account.
- Taken ill – He was suddenly taken ill during the trip.
These expressions highlight unexpected or completed states.
Quick Reference Table for “Taken”
| Role | Example Sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Perfect tense | She has taken her seat. | Completed action |
| Passive voice | The prize was taken by him. | Action received |
| Expression | I was taken aback. | Idiomatic phrase |
Common Confusions Between Taken and Taking
Some English phrases look almost the same but mean different things depending on whether you use “taken” or “taking.” Let’s clear them up.
Taking Care Of vs Taken Care Of
- Taking care of → Present/ongoing action
- She is taking care of the kids.
- Taken care of → Past/completed action
- The problem has been taken care of.
👉 Rule of thumb: Taking care of = in progress, Taken care of = already done.
Taking Place vs Taken Place
- Taking place → Happening now or scheduled
- The meeting is taking place right now.
- The concert will be taking place downtown.
- Taken place → Already happened
- The changes have taken place.
- A miracle has taken place.
👉 Rule of thumb: Taking place = current/future, Taken place = completed event.
Other Tricky Pairs
- He is taking the lead vs He has taken the lead.
- They are taking action vs Action has been taken.
In every case, “taking” signals movement or progress, while “taken” signals results or completion.
Frequency of Use in Real English
Curious which form appears more often? Let’s look at real usage.
- “Taking” dominates in everyday conversation because continuous tenses are common in spoken English. Phrases like taking a break or taking time are part of daily talk.
- “Taken” appears more in formal or written contexts—legal documents, academic writing, or news reports often use “steps have been taken” or “data was taken from surveys.”
According to the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA):
- “Taking” shows up most in casual speech and storytelling.
- “Taken” shows up in reporting, official documents, and formal writing.
👉 Both are essential, but “taking” feels more active and conversational, while “taken” feels more formal and result-oriented.
Practical Tips to Remember the Difference
Sometimes memory tricks help more than rules. Try these:
- Taking = now, Taken = done.
- Think of taking as someone in motion (still carrying something).
- Think of taken as someone who already finished the action (it’s no longer with them).
- Analogy: It’s like “running” vs “ran.” One shows action happening, the other shows it’s finished.
Quick Checklist Before Choosing
Ask yourself:
- Is the action happening right now? → Use taking.
- Has the action already been completed? → Use taken.
- Am I describing a state caused by the action? → Use taken.
- Am I describing the process of the action? → Use taking.
Case Study: A Classroom Example
Imagine a teacher reviewing homework.
- She says: “I am taking your homework to grade tonight.”
- Here, “taking” shows her current action.
- Later, she says: “I have taken your homework home.”
- Now, “taken” shows the action is already complete.
This simple shift completely changes the timeline.
âť“ FAQs
What is the difference between taken and taking?
Taken is the past participle of “take” (completed action), while taking is the present participle (ongoing action).
Can “taking” be used as a noun?
Yes. When used as a gerund, “taking” acts as a noun, for example: Taking risks can lead to success.
When should I use “taken care of” vs “taking care of”?
Use taking care of for something in progress, and taken care of for something already completed.
Is it correct to say “has taken place” or “is taking place”?
Both are correct. Has taken place means it already happened, while is taking place means it’s happening now.
Which is used more in daily English: taken or taking?
Taking is more common in casual speech, while taken appears more in formal or written contexts.
What are some common phrases with “taken” and “taking”?
With “taken”: taken aback, taken for granted.
With “taking”: taking part, taking charge.
Conclusion
Both “taken” and “taking” come from the versatile verb “take,” but they play very different roles.
- Taking = ongoing action or gerund (noun use).
- Taken = past participle showing completed action or passive meaning.
- Expressions like “taken for granted” or “taking part” make each form feel natural in English.
- Remember: Taking is now, Taken is done.
Once you start spotting the difference in real conversations, you’ll never mix them up again. With practice, using taken vs taking will feel as natural as speaking itself.
