Taken Vs Taking: What is the Difference & Which is Correct?

Taken vs Taking can look confusing because both words come from the verb “take,” but they serve different grammatical purposes. Taken is the past participle of “take,” while taking is its present participle or -ing form. Understanding this difference helps you choose the correct word when speaking, writing, or forming different English verb tenses.

Comparison Overview

Taken and taking are two forms of the irregular verb “take.” Although they share the same basic meaning, their grammatical roles are different.

• Taken is the past participle of “take.”
• Taking is the present participle and -ing form of “take.”
• Taken commonly appears with helping verbs such as has, have, had, is, was, were, and been, depending on the sentence structure.
• Taking is commonly used with forms of “be” to create continuous tenses.
• Taking can also function as a gerund, meaning it can act like a noun.

For example:

• “She has taken the book.”
• “She is taking the book.”
• “Taking notes helps students remember information.”

The main distinction is therefore not simply about past versus present. It is about how each form functions grammatically in a sentence.

Definition of Taken

Taken is the past participle form of the verb “take.” The verb “take” is irregular, so its forms do not follow the usual pattern of simply adding “-ed.”

The three principal forms are:

Verb Form	Word
Base form	take
Past tense	took
Past participle	taken
-ing form	taking

“Taken” generally indicates that an action has been completed or is viewed as completed. It is often used with has, have, or had to form perfect tenses.

Examples of Taken

• “I have taken my notebook.”
• “She had taken the wrong bus.”
• “They have taken several photographs.”
• “The medicine was taken after dinner.”
• “He has taken responsibility for the mistake.”

“Taken” can also be used in passive constructions:

“The documents were taken to the office.”

Here, “taken” helps explain what happened to the documents.

Definition of Taking

Taking is the present participle and -ing form of the verb “take.” It is commonly used to describe an action that is happening now or around a particular time.

It frequently appears with forms of “be”:

• “I am taking a class.”
• “She is taking notes.”
• “They were taking pictures.”
• “We are taking a break.”

“Taking” can also work as a gerund, meaning the -ing form functions as a noun.

For example:

“Taking regular notes can improve organization.”

In this sentence, “taking” is not simply describing an ongoing action. The phrase “taking regular notes” functions as the subject of the sentence.

Main Differences Between Taken and Taking

The clearest difference between taken and taking is their grammatical form and the way they describe an action.

Feature	Taken	Taking
Base verb	Take	Take
Verb form	Past participle	Present participle / -ing form
Common use	Perfect and passive constructions	Continuous tenses and gerunds
Basic idea	Action viewed as completed or affected	Action in progress or the act of doing something
Example	“She has taken the test.”	“She is taking the test.”
Common helping verbs	Has, have, had, been	Am, is, are, was, were

Taken Usually Connects to Completed Actions

When taken appears with “has,” “have,” or “had,” it commonly indicates that an action has already happened.

For example:

“He has taken the final exam.”

The exam has already been taken.

Taking Usually Shows an Ongoing Action

When taking appears with “am,” “is,” “are,” “was,” or “were,” it commonly shows an action in progress.

For example:

“He is taking the final exam.”

The action is happening now or during the relevant period.

Compare the Two

Consider these sentences:

• “She has taken the course.”
• “She is taking the course.”

The first sentence uses taken to show that the course has already been completed or experienced. The second uses taking to show that the course is currently in progress.

Taken vs Taking in Different Tenses

Understanding verb tenses makes the difference much easier.

Present Perfect

Use taken after “has” or “have.”

“They have taken the train.”

This means the action has occurred before now.

Past Perfect

Use taken after “had.”

“She had taken the documents before the meeting began.”

The action happened before another past event.

Present Continuous

Use taking after “am,” “is,” or “are.”

“He is taking a photography class.”

The activity is currently happening.

Past Continuous

Use taking after “was” or “were.”

“They were taking notes during the lecture.”

The activity was in progress at a particular time in the past.

Grammar Guide

Taken and taking are both verb forms, but they do not work in the same grammatical structures.

How Each Term Is Used in Sentences

Taken is the past participle:

has/have + taken

“I have taken the test.”

had + taken

“She had taken the wrong route.”

be + taken in passive constructions:

“The picture was taken yesterday.”

Taking is commonly used in continuous structures:

am/is/are + taking

“We are taking a break.”

was/were + taking

“They were taking photographs.”

It can also act as a gerund:

“Taking breaks can help you stay focused.”

Common Mistakes Learners Make

One common mistake is using taken after “is” when the intended meaning is an ongoing action.

Incorrect:

“She is taken the bus.”

Correct:

“She is taking the bus.”

Another common mistake is using taking after “has” or “have.”

Incorrect:

“He has taking the test.”

Correct:

“He has taken the test.”

Learners may also confuse took and taken. Remember that “took” is the simple past form, while “taken” is the past participle.

• “She took the book yesterday.”
• “She has taken the book.”

Simple Rules to Remember

Use these quick rules:

1. Take → took → taken for the main irregular verb forms.
2. Use taken after “has,” “have,” or “had.”
3. Use taking after “am,” “is,” “are,” “was,” or “were” when describing an ongoing action.
4. Use taking when the -ing form acts as a noun.
5. Remember that taken is not normally used alone to form a continuous tense.
6. Remember that taking is not the past participle of “take.”

Quick Tips for Writing and Speaking

A useful trick is to look at the helping verb.

If you see:

has/have/had → usually think “taken.”

If you see:

am/is/are/was/were + ongoing action → usually think “taking.”

For example:

• “She has taken the opportunity.”
• “She is taking the opportunity.”

Also remember that context matters. “Taken” can appear in passive sentences, while “taking” can function as a noun, so the helping verb alone is not always enough.

When to Use Each One

When to Use Taken

Use taken when:

• An action has been completed and you are using a perfect tense.
• You are forming a passive construction.
• You are describing something that has already been taken.
• You are discussing an action that occurred before another event.
• The grammar of the sentence requires a past participle.

Examples:

“I have taken the required course.”

“The photographs were taken in the morning.”

When to Use Taking

Use taking when:

• An action is happening now.
• An action was happening at a particular time.
• You want to describe an ongoing activity.
• The -ing form is functioning as a gerund.
• You are talking about the act or process of taking something.

Examples:

“She is taking notes.”

“Taking notes is useful during lectures.”

When NOT to Use Each One

When Not to Use Taken

Do not normally use taken to form a standard continuous tense.

Incorrect:

“He is taken the train.”

Correct:

“He is taking the train.”

However, “taken” can follow forms of “be” in passive constructions:

“The train was taken by hundreds of passengers.”

So the problem is not the word “taken” itself; it is using it in the wrong grammatical structure.

When Not to Use Taking

Do not use taking as the past participle after “has,” “have,” or “had.”

Incorrect:

“She has taking the exam.”

Correct:

“She has taken the exam.”

If you simply need the simple past tense, use took rather than either “taken” or “taking.”

“She took the exam yesterday.”

Taken vs Taking in Meaning

The two words can describe the same general action but present it differently.

Consider:

“Ali has taken the photograph.”

This focuses on the completed action.

“Ali is taking the photograph.”

This focuses on the action as it is happening.

This difference is important because English uses verb forms to communicate not only what happened, but also when it happened and how the speaker views the action.

Which One to Use (Decision Guide)

Use this simple decision process:

Step 1: Is the action happening now?

If yes, taking may be correct.

“She is taking notes.”

Step 2: Are you using “has,” “have,” or “had”?

If yes, taken is generally required.

“She has taken notes.”

Step 3: Are you describing a completed action in the passive voice?

Use taken.

“The photograph was taken yesterday.”

Step 4: Is “taking” acting like a noun?

Use taking.

“Taking notes is helpful.”

Step 5: Are you describing a simple past action?

Neither may be correct. You probably need took.

“She took the book yesterday.”

The key is to identify the tense and grammatical function, rather than choosing based only on the meaning of “take.”

Real-World Practical Examples

Taken Examples

Education:
“The students have taken the final examination.”

Here, “taken” follows “have” and forms the present perfect tense.

Daily Life:
“I have taken my keys with me.”

The action has already occurred.

Science:
“The researcher has taken several measurements.”

The measurements have already been collected.

Business:
“The company has taken steps to improve customer service.”

The company has already carried out those steps.

Writing:
“The author has taken a different approach to the subject.”

The author has already adopted the approach.

Technology:
“The system has taken a backup of the files.”

The backup action has been completed.

Conversation:
“Have you taken your jacket?”

The speaker is asking whether the action has already happened.

Taking Examples

Education:
“She is taking an English course this semester.”

The course is currently in progress.

Daily Life:
“I am taking the bus home.”

The speaker is describing a current plan or action.

Science:
“The scientist is taking measurements of the sample.”

The measurement process is happening now.

Business:
“The manager is taking notes during the meeting.”

The action is currently happening.

Writing:
“Taking time to revise your work can improve clarity.”

“Taking” functions as a gerund and acts like a noun.

Technology:
“The computer is taking a long time to process the file.”

The process is currently occurring.

Conversation:
“What are you taking with you?”

The question asks about what the person is currently planning or doing.

Self-Assessment (Fill in the Blanks)

Complete each sentence with taken or taking, unless the sentence specifically requires another form of “take.”

1. I have ______ the necessary documents to the office.
2. She is ______ notes during the lecture.
3. They had ______ the wrong road before realizing their mistake.
4. He is ______ a computer course this year.
5. The photograph was ______ during the afternoon.
6. We have ______ several measurements for the experiment.
7. ______ regular breaks can help with concentration.
8. The students are ______ part in a group activity.
9. She has ______ responsibility for the project.
10. The package was ______ to the delivery center.
11. I am ______ the train to school today.
12. They have ______ several important steps to solve the problem.
13. ______ photographs during a trip can help preserve memories.
14. He had ______ the book from the library before the deadline.
15. The manager is ______ notes during the meeting.
16. The samples were ______ to the laboratory.
17. She has ______ a different approach to the assignment.
18. We are ______ a closer look at the results.
19. ______ your time before making a decision is often helpful.
20. The technician has ______ measurements from the device.

Answers

1. Taken — “Have taken” uses the past participle in the present perfect tense.
2. Taking — “Is taking” describes an action in progress.
3. Taken — “Had taken” forms the past perfect tense.
4. Taking — “Is taking” describes a current activity.
5. Taken — “Was taken” is a passive construction.
6. Taken — “Have taken” requires the past participle.
7. Taking — The -ing form acts as a gerund and functions as the subject.
8. Taking — “Are taking” describes an ongoing activity.
9. Taken — “Has taken” requires the past participle.
10. Taken — “Was taken” is passive voice.
11. Taking — “Am taking” describes a current action or plan.
12. Taken — “Have taken” forms the present perfect.
13. Taking — The -ing form functions as a gerund.
14. Taken — “Had taken” forms the past perfect.
15. Taking — “Is taking” describes an action happening during the meeting.
16. Taken — “Were taken” is a passive construction.
17. Taken — “Has taken” requires the past participle.
18. Taking — “Are taking” describes an ongoing action.
19. Taking — “Taking your time” functions as a noun phrase.
20. Taken — “Has taken” requires the past participle.

Conclusion:

Understanding Taken Vs Taking becomes much easier when you focus on how each word functions in a sentence. Taken is the past participle of take and is commonly used with helping verbs such as have, has, had, or be. It can describe something that has already been received, carried, accepted, or completed. Taking, on the other hand, is the present participle or -ing form of take, usually showing an action that is happening now or continuing over time.
The key difference is therefore connected to time, tense, and sentence structure. For example, “She is taking the book” describes an ongoing action, while “She has taken the book” describes an action that has already happened. Once you recognize these patterns, choosing between taken and taking becomes much more natural. With a little practice, you can use both confidently in everyday English and formal writing.

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