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

“Taken” and “taking” are both forms of the verb take, but they do not work in the same grammatical situations. The main difference is whether an action is completed or ongoing, and whether the word follows an auxiliary verb. Understanding this distinction helps you write clearer English and avoid common mistakes in everyday conversation and formal writing.

Comparison Overview

Taken vs Taking is a comparison between two forms of the irregular verb take.

• Taken is the past participle of take.
• Taking is the present participle and -ing form of take.
• Taken is commonly used with have, has, had, and in the passive voice with forms of be.
• Taking is commonly used with am, is, are, was, and were to form continuous tenses.
• Both words come from the same base verb, but they describe actions differently.

The basic forms of take are:

Verb form	Word	Example
Base form	take	I take the bus.
Third-person singular	takes	She takes the bus.
Past tense	took	She took the bus yesterday.
Past participle	taken	She has taken the bus.
Present participle / -ing form	taking	She is taking the bus.

Definition of Taken

Taken is the past participle form of the verb take.

It generally indicates that the action of taking has been completed, particularly when used with a perfect auxiliary verb such as has, have, or had.

Examples

• I have taken my medicine.
• She has taken the documents.
• They had taken the wrong train.
• He has taken several photographs.
• The books were taken from the library.

Notice that taken normally does not stand alone as the simple past tense.

Incorrect:

I taken the book yesterday.

Correct:

I took the book yesterday.

Correct:

I have taken the book.

The simple past form is took, while the past participle is taken.

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 was happening at a particular time.

Examples

• I am taking notes.
• She is taking a break.
• They are taking an exam.
• We were taking photographs.
• He is taking the train.

Taking can also function as a gerund, meaning that the -ing form behaves like a noun.

For example:

Taking regular breaks can improve concentration.

Here, taking regular breaks functions as the subject of the sentence.

Main Differences Between Taken and Taking

The biggest difference is grammar and time perspective.

Feature	Taken	Taking
Basic verb	take	take
Verb form	Past participle	Present participle / -ing form
Common auxiliary verbs	have, has, had	am, is, are, was, were
Typical meaning	Completed action or passive action	Ongoing action
Example	I have taken the test.	I am taking the test.
Can act as a gerund?	No	Yes
Simple past?	No	No

Taken describes a completed action

She has taken the keys.

The action of taking has already happened.

Taking describes an ongoing action.

She is taking the keys.

The sentence presents the action as happening or developing at that moment.

However, context matters. Taking does not always mean that something is happening literally at the exact moment of speaking. It can describe a temporary or ongoing situation.

He is taking an online course this month.

Taken vs Taking in Verb Tenses

Understanding auxiliary verbs makes this comparison much easier.

Present perfect

Use has/have + taken:

I have taken the course.
She has taken the exam.

Past perfect

Use had + taken:

They had taken the wrong road.

Present continuous

Use am/is/are + taking:

I am taking notes.
She is taking a class.

Past continuous

Use was/were + taking:

I was taking notes when the teacher entered.

Future continuous

Use will be + taking:

We will be taking the test tomorrow.

Grammar Guide

Taken and taking are both verb forms, but they have different grammatical jobs.

How each term is used in sentences

Patterns with “taken”

The most important pattern is:

have/has/had + taken

Examples:

• I have taken the opportunity.
• She has taken the wrong bus.
• They had taken all the available seats.

Another important pattern is the passive voice:

be + taken

Examples:

• The photograph was taken yesterday.
• The patient was taken to the hospital.
• The documents were taken by the manager.

Patterns with “taking”

A common pattern is:

am / is/are + taking

Examples:

• I am taking a course.
• He is taking a shower.
• They are taking an exam.

Another pattern is:

was / were + taking

Examples:

• She was taking notes.
• We were taking photographs.

Taking can also function as a gerund:

Taking notes helps me remember information.

In this sentence, taking is derived from a verb but functions as a noun-like subject.

Common mistakes learners make

Mistake 1: Using “taken” as the simple past

Incorrect:

I taken the train yesterday.

Correct:

I took the train yesterday.

Remember:

take → took → taken

Mistake 2: Using “taking” after have or has

Incorrect:

She has taking the test.

Correct:

She has taken the test.

The present perfect requires the past participle.

Mistake 3: Using “taken” after am/is/are for an active continuous action

Incorrect:

I am taken the exam.

Correct:

I am taking the exam.

Mistake 4: Confusing “taken” with “took”

Incorrect:

He taken my phone yesterday.

Correct:

He took my phone yesterday.

Simple rules to remember

A useful formula is:

Take → Took → Taken → Taking

Think of the forms this way:

• take = basic form
• took = simple past
• taken = past participle
• taking = -ing form

For perfect tenses:

have/has/had + taken

For continuous tenses:

am/is/are/was/were + taking

Quick tips for writing and speaking

1. If you see have, has, or had, taken is often the correct form.
2. If you see am, is, are, was, or were and the sentence describes an ongoing active action, taking is often correct.
3. If the sentence describes a completed action in the simple past, use took, not taken.
4. Check whether take is active or passive.
5. Remember the irregular verb sequence: take – took – taken.

When to Use Each One

Use “taken” when:

• An action has been completed with have/has/had.
• You are forming a perfect tense.
• You are using the passive voice.
• You need the past participle of take.

Examples:

I have taken the exam.

She had taken the documents.

The picture was taken in 2024.

Use “taking” when:

• An action is ongoing.
• You are forming a continuous tense.
• The -ing form is functioning as a gerund.
• You are describing an activity or process.

Examples:

I am taking an exam.

They were taking photographs.

Taking notes is useful.

When NOT to Use Each One

Do not use “taken” as the simple past

Don’t write:

She taken the bus yesterday.

Use:

She took the bus yesterday.

Do not normally use “taking” after “has” or “have”

Don’t write:

He has taking the medicine.

Use:

He has taken the medicine.

Do not confuse passive “taken” with active “taking”

Compare:

The teacher is taking the students to the museum.

The teacher is acting.

The students are being taken to the museum.

The students are receiving the action.

Taken vs Taking: Meaning in Different Contexts

The distinction becomes clearer when the same situation is expressed in different ways.

Exams

I am taking an exam.

The exam is currently happening or is an upcoming activity.

I have taken the exam.

The exam has already been completed.

Medicine

She is taking medicine.

This can describe an ongoing treatment or current habit.

She has taken her medicine.

This usually means she has already swallowed or used the medicine.

Photographs

He is taking photographs.

Currently photographing something.

He has taken several photographs.

The photographs have already been captured.

Transportation

We are taking the train.

This describes the journey or travel plan.

We have taken the train.

This indicates that the action has already occurred, depending on context.

When “Taking” Is a Gerund

One reason taking can confuse learners is that it does not always form a continuous tense.

Compare:

She is taking notes.

Here, taking is part of the present continuous verb phrase.

But:

Taking notes is helpful.

Here, taking notes acts as a noun phrase and functions as the subject.

This use is called a gerund.

Other examples include:

• Taking photographs is my hobby.
• Taking responsibility is important.
• Taking the bus saves time.
• Taking regular breaks can help productivity.

Real-World Practical Examples

Taken Examples

1. Education:
   I have taken three English courses this year.
2. Daily life:
   She has taken the keys from the table.
3. Science:
   The researchers have taken several measurements.
4. Business:
   The company has taken steps to improve customer service.
5. Photography:
   The photograph was taken during the summer.
6. Technology:
   I have taken a screenshot of the error message.
7. Travel:
   We had taken the wrong train before we realized our mistake.
8. Conversation:
   Have you taken your phone with you?
9. Writing:
   The author has taken a different approach to the subject.
10. Health:
    He has taken his prescribed medicine.

Taking Examples

1. Education:
   I am taking an English class this semester.
2. Daily life:
   She is taking a short break.
3. Science:
   The scientists are taking measurements.
4. Business:
   The company is taking action to reduce costs.
5. Photography:
   He is taking photographs of the building.
6. Technology:
   I am taking a screenshot of the error.
7. Travel:
   We are taking the train to the city.
8. Conversation:
   What are you taking to the party?
9. Writing:
   She is taking notes during the meeting.
10. Health:
    He is taking antibiotics for the infection.

Self-Assessment (Fill in the Blanks)

Complete each sentence with taken or taking. In some questions, the correct form depends on the grammatical structure.

1. I have ______ the final exam already.
2. She is ______ notes during the lecture.
3. They had ______ the wrong road.
4. We are ______ a train to Lahore.
5. He has ______ several photographs of the building.
6. The manager is ______ responsibility for the project.
7. The picture was ______ yesterday.
8. I am ______ an online course this semester.
9. She has ______ her laptop to work.
10. They were ______ measurements in the laboratory.
11. He had ______ all the necessary documents.
12. ______ regular breaks can improve concentration.
13. The students are ______ a difficult test.
14. The patient was ______ to the hospital.
15. I have ______ a screenshot of the webpage.
16. She is ______ the bus to school today.
17. The researchers have ______ samples from the experiment.
18. He was ______ photographs when it started raining.
19. We had ______ several steps to solve the problem.
20. ______ responsibility for your mistakes is important.

Answers

1. taken: “have” requires the past participle.
2. taking: “is” + -ing forms the present continuous.
3. taken: “had” requires the past participle.
4. taking: “are” + -ing describes an ongoing/planned activity.
5. taken: “has” requires the past participle.
6. taking: “is” + -ing describes an ongoing action.
7. taken: passive construction: “was taken.”
8. taking: “am” + -ing forms the present continuous.
9. taken: “has” requires the past participle.
10. taking: “were” + -ing forms the past continuous.
11. taken: “had” requires the past participle.
12. Taking: the -ing form functions as a gerund/subject.
13. taking: “are” + -ing forms the present continuous.
14. taken: passive construction: “was taken.”
15. taken: “have” requires the past participle.
16. taking: “is” + -ing describes the activity.
17. taken: “have” requires the past participle.
18. taking: “was” + -ing forms the past continuous.
19. taken: “had” requires the past participle.
20. Taking: the -ing form functions as a gerund/subject.

Final Verdict

The difference between taken and taking is mainly grammatical:

• Taken = the past participle of take. Use it especially after have, has, or had, and in passive constructions.
• Taking = the -ing form of take. Use it with forms of be for continuous actions or as a gerund.
• Took = the simple past, so don’t use taken when you simply need the past-tense form.

The easiest formula to remember is:

take → took → taken → taking

For example:

I took the exam yesterday.
taken the exam.
I am taking the exam now.

Once you identify the auxiliary verb and determine whether the action is completed, ongoing, passive, or functioning as a noun, choosing between taken and taking becomes much easier.

Conclusion

Understanding Taken Vs Taking becomes much easier when you remember that both words come from the verb take, but they have different grammatical roles. Taken is the past participle, commonly used with have, has, and had, as well as in passive constructions. Taking is the present participle or -ing form, typically used with forms of be to describe an ongoing action.

 For example, “I have taken the test” describes a completed experience, while “I am taking the test” describes an action in progress. The key is to look at the words around the verb and consider the meaning of the sentence. Remembering that take, took, taken, and taking can prevent many common English grammar mistakes. Whether you are writing an email, speaking in conversation, studying English, or creating professional content, choosing between taken and taking correctly will make your sentences clearer, more natural, and grammatically accurate.

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