Taken vs Taking: Meaning, Difference & Usage

Have you ever wondered whether to write “She has taken the exam” or “She is taking the exam”? Both sentences are grammatically correct, but they describe different situations. The confusion arises because taken and taking are forms of the same verb, take, yet they perform different grammatical functions. Understanding their meanings, verb forms, and sentence patterns will help you choose the right word in everyday conversations, school assignments, emails, and professional writing.

Quick Answer

Taken and taking are both correct English words, but they are not interchangeable. Taken is the past participle of take, while taking is its -ing form, which can function as a present participle or a gerund. (Cambridge Dictionary)

Form	Grammatical Function	Main Use	Example
Taken	Past participle	Perfect tenses and passive constructions	She has taken the test.
Taking	Present participle	Continuous tenses	She is taking the test.
Taking	Gerund	Names an activity	Taking tests makes her nervous.

Remember: Use taken in sentences such as “I have taken the course.” Use taking in sentences such as “I am taking the course.”

Meaning and Definition

Meaning of Taken

Taken refers to the past participle form of the verb take. Depending on the context, it can describe something that someone has carried, received, removed, accepted, chosen, or completed.

You will often see taken in sentences about completed actions, experiences, photographs, transportation, and things that are no longer available.

For example, “The photograph was taken yesterday” tells us that someone captured the photograph in the past.

Definition of Taken

Taken is the past participle of the irregular English verb take. It is commonly used with auxiliary verbs to form perfect tenses and passive constructions.

Examples include:

• Present perfect: She has taken the medicine.
• Past perfect: They had taken their seats before the show began.
• Passive voice: The picture was taken by my brother.
• Modal perfect: He might have taken the wrong train.

In everyday English, taken frequently indicates that an action has occurred or that something has been affected by an action. However, its precise meaning depends on the sentence.

Meaning of Taking

Taking is the -ing form of the verb take. It commonly describes an action that is happening or continuing, but it can also name an activity.

For example, “I am taking notes” describes an action in progress. In contrast, “Taking notes helps me remember information” uses taking to name an activity.

The word appears in everyday conversations, academic writing, workplace communication, and many common expressions.

Definition of Taking

Taking is the present participle and gerund form of take. As a present participle, it helps form continuous verb tenses. As a gerund, it functions grammatically like a noun.

Consider these examples:

• Present participle: She is taking a photography class.
• Past continuous: We were taking pictures during the trip.
• Gerund as a subject: Taking regular breaks improves concentration.
• Gerund as an object: He enjoys taking long walks.

The form remains taking in each example, but its grammatical role changes according to the sentence structure.

Main Difference

The main difference between taken vs taking is their grammatical function and how they relate to an action.

Taken is the past participle, which commonly appears with forms of have or in passive constructions. Taking is the -ing form, which is used in continuous tenses and as the name of an activity. (Cambridge Dictionary)

Feature	Taken	Taking
Base verb	Take	Take
Verb form	Past participle	Present participle or gerund
Common helping verbs	Has, have, had, been	Am, is, are, was, were
Perfect tense	She has taken the exam.	Not used this way
Continuous tense	Not used as the main participle in this pattern	She is taking the exam.
Gerund use	Does not normally function as a gerund	Taking an exam requires preparation.
Passive construction	The picture was taken yesterday.	The phrase is not used in the same way
Spelling	Taken	Taking

Compare Taken and Taking in Context

Consider these two sentences:

Sentence 1: Ali has taken the documents.

This sentence uses the present perfect tense. The word taken is the past participle of take.

Sentence 2: Ali is taking the documents to the office.

This sentence uses the present continuous tense. The word taking describes an action in progress.

The difference is not simply about past versus present time. The complete verb phrase determines the tense and meaning.

Which One Is Correct?

Both taken and taking are correct English forms. Neither is a misspelling, and neither is automatically better than the other.

The correct choice depends on the sentence you want to write.

Use taken when the grammar requires the past participle:

• I have taken the necessary steps.
• She had taken the book home.
• The photograph was taken last summer.

Use taking when describing an ongoing action or naming an activity:

• I am taking an English course.
• They were taking notes during the lecture.
• Taking responsibility is important.

Remember that you cannot normally replace one form with the other without changing the grammatical structure.

For example:

• Correct: She has taken the test.
• Correct: She is taking the test.
• Incorrect: She has taking the test.
• Incorrect: She is taken the test.

The last two examples do not follow the standard verb patterns intended by the sentences.

Grammar and Usage

Understanding the grammatical forms of take makes it easier to choose between taken and taking.

Verb Forms of Take

The verb take is irregular, meaning it does not form its past tense by simply adding -ed.

Its principal forms are:

Verb Form	Example
Base form	Take
Third-person singular	Takes
Simple past	Took
Past participle	Taken
Present participle or gerund	Taking

For example:

• I take the bus to school.
• She takes the bus to school.
• I took the bus yesterday.
• I have taken the bus many times.
• I am taking the bus today.

Each form serves a different grammatical purpose.

Taken With Has, Have, and Had

The word taken frequently follows has, have, or had in perfect tenses.

Present perfect:

• I have taken the exam.
• She has taken my advice.
• They have taken their seats.

Past perfect:

• I had taken the book before the library closed.
• She had taken the course before applying for the job.

These helping verbs combine with the past participle to form the appropriate tense.

Taken in Passive Voice

Taken also appears in passive constructions. In passive voice, the subject receives the action rather than performing it.

Examples:

• The picture was taken by a professional photographer.
• The patient was taken to the hospital.
• All the available seats have been taken.

Notice that taken does not always mean an action happened recently. The surrounding words establish the time and context.

Taking in Continuous Tenses

The word taking appears in continuous tenses with the appropriate form of be.

Present continuous:

• I am taking an online course.
• She is taking a break.
• They are taking photographs.

Past continuous:

• I was taking notes when the teacher entered.
• They were taking the train when the service was interrupted.

Future continuous:

• I will be taking my final exam next week.
• She will be taking part in the meeting tomorrow.

The form taking remains unchanged while the helping verb indicates the tense.

Taking as a Gerund

A gerund is a verb form ending in -ing that functions like a noun.

Examples:

• Taking notes helps me study.
• She enjoys taking photographs.
• He is interested in taking a computer course.
• They discussed taking a different route.

In these sentences, taking refers to an activity. It does not necessarily mean the action is happening at that exact moment.

How to Use Taken and Taking

Choosing the correct form becomes easier when you identify what the sentence needs.

Use Taken After Have, Has, or Had

When forming the perfect tenses of take, use the past participle taken.

Examples:

• I have taken your advice.
• She has taken three classes this semester.
• We had taken our seats before the presentation started.

Quick tip: If you are using have, has, or had to form a perfect tense with take, choose taken, not taking or took.

Use Taken in Passive Sentences

Use taken when the sentence describes something or someone receiving the action.

Examples:

• The photographs were taken during our vacation.
• The patient was taken to the clinic.
• The documents have been taken from the office.

The person performing the action may be mentioned, but it is not always necessary.

Use Taking for Actions in Progress

Use taking with an appropriate form of be when describing an ongoing action.

Examples:

• I am taking an English class.
• She is taking a phone call.
• They are taking their final examination.

The action may be happening now or around the time being discussed.

Use Taking to Name an Activity

Use taking when an activity functions as a noun in the sentence.

Examples:

• Taking breaks can improve concentration.
• I enjoy taking pictures of nature.
• Taking responsibility requires maturity.

Here, taking describes an activity rather than forming a continuous tense.

Examples

The following examples show how taken and taking work in everyday English.

Examples of Taken

1. I have taken your suggestion seriously.
2. She has taken several online classes this year.
3. The photograph was taken at the beach.
4. They had taken the wrong road before checking the map.
5. He has taken responsibility for the mistake.
6. All the seats have been taken.
7. The patient was taken to the hospital for treatment.
8. I have taken enough notes to prepare for the exam.
9. The documents were taken to the manager.
10. She had taken the opportunity to explain her ideas.
11. My brother has taken up painting as a hobby.
12. The decision was taken after a lengthy discussion.

Examples of Taking

1. I am taking an English class this semester.
2. She is taking notes during the lecture.
3. They are taking photographs of the sunset.
4. We were taking a walk when it started raining.
5. He enjoys taking care of his plants.
6. Taking regular breaks helps me concentrate.
7. She is taking part in a school competition.
8. I will be taking my examination next Monday.
9. They discussed taking a different route.
10. Taking responsibility can help build trust.
11. The company is taking applications for the position.
12. He apologized for taking so long to respond.

Examples of Taken vs Taking in Pairs

Pair 1: An examination

• Taken: I have taken the examination.
• Taking: I am taking the examination.

Pair 2: Photographs

• Taken: The photographs were taken yesterday.
• Taking: We are taking photographs today.

Pair 3: A course

• Taken: She has taken a computer course.
• Taking: She is taking a computer course.

Pair 4: Notes

• Taken: I have taken notes on the main points.
• Taking: I am taking notes during the lesson.

Pair 5: Responsibility

• Taken: He has taken responsibility for the project.
• Taking: He is taking responsibility for the project.

In each pair, both sentences are grammatically correct, but the verb construction and intended meaning differ.

Common Mistakes

English learners sometimes confuse taken and taking because both forms come from the same verb. The following mistakes are worth avoiding.

Mistake 1: Using Taking After Have

Incorrect: I have taking the test.

Correct: I have taken the test.

Why it happens: Learners sometimes use the -ing form after every helping verb.

Explanation: The present perfect tense requires have or has followed by the past participle, which is taken.

Mistake 2: Using Taken in the Present Continuous

Incorrect: She is taken an English class.

Correct: She is taking an English class.

Why it happens: The writer knows that taken and taking are forms of the same verb but overlooks the continuous tense pattern.

Explanation: The present continuous uses am, is, or are followed by the present participle.

Mistake 3: Using Took Instead of Taken

Incorrect: He has took my book.

Correct: He has taken my book.

Why it happens: Took is the simple past form, so learners may assume it also works after has.

Explanation: Perfect tenses require the past participle taken, not the simple past form took.

Mistake 4: Using Taken Without the Required Verb Structure

Incorrect: I taken the bus yesterday.

Correct: I took the bus yesterday.

Why it happens: Learners may confuse the past participle with the simple past tense.

Explanation: In a standard affirmative sentence describing a completed past action, took normally functions as the main verb. Taken generally needs an appropriate auxiliary verb or another grammatical construction.

Mistake 5: Confusing a Gerund With a Continuous Tense

Consider these two sentences:

• Taking notes helps me learn.
• I am taking notes.

Both are correct.

In the first sentence, taking notes names an activity and functions as the subject. In the second, taking forms part of the present continuous verb phrase.

The word ending alone does not determine the grammatical function. You must examine how the word operates in the sentence.

Linguistic Insight

From a linguistic perspective, taken and taking illustrate how English uses different forms of a single verb to express grammatical relationships.

Why Take Has Different Forms

The verb take is irregular. Its principal forms are take, took, and taken. Unlike regular verbs such as walk, which form the simple past and past participle as walked, take follows a different pattern.

This irregularity is part of the historical development of English verbs. Learners must therefore remember the principal forms rather than applying the regular -ed rule.

The Role of the Suffix -ing

In taking, the ending -ing marks a form that can serve several grammatical purposes.

It appears in continuous verb phrases:

“She is taking a class.”

It also appears in gerunds:

“Taking a class requires commitment.”

The same written form can therefore perform different functions depending on the sentence.

Why Context Matters

Words do not communicate their full grammatical meaning in isolation. Their function depends on their relationship with other words.

Compare:

• She has taken the book.
• She is taking the book.
• Taking the book was a mistake.

The first uses a perfect construction, the second uses a continuous construction, and the third uses a gerund phrase as the subject.

This demonstrates why understanding sentence structure is more reliable than memorizing a single definition for each word.

Usage Tips

Use these practical tips to choose between taken and taking correctly.

1. Remember the principal verb forms: Take, took, taken, taking.
2. Check the helping verb: If you are forming the present perfect with has or have, use taken.
3. Look for a continuous tense: If the sentence uses am, is, or are to describe an ongoing action, use taking.
4. Check whether the activity acts like a noun: In “Taking notes is helpful,” the word taking names an activity.
5. Learn common sentence patterns: Memorize examples such as “has taken a test” and “is taking a test.”
6. Read the entire sentence: Do not select a form simply because it sounds familiar.
7. Practice with contrasting examples: Write two sentences about the same situation, one with taken and one with taking.

For example:

• I have taken the course.
• I am taking the course.

Both sentences are correct, and comparing them helps you recognize the grammatical difference.

Expert Suggestion

As a grammar teacher, I recommend learning taken and taking through sentence patterns instead of memorizing their definitions alone.

Start by practicing three structures:

• Have/has/had + taken: She has taken the exam.
• Am/is/are/was/were + taking: She is taking the exam.
• Taking + activity or object: Taking the exam requires preparation.

Next, create your own examples using familiar situations, such as attending classes, taking photographs, making notes, or completing assignments.

If you are writing an academic assignment or professional email, check the complete verb phrase before submitting your work. This simple habit will help you avoid common tense errors and improve your grammatical accuracy.

Summary

Taken and taking are both correct forms of the verb take, but they serve different grammatical purposes.

• Taken is the past participle. It commonly appears in perfect tenses and passive constructions.
• Taking is the present participle or gerund. It appears in continuous tenses and can name an activity.
• Taken: She has taken the test.
• Taking: She is taking the test.
• Gerund: Taking tests requires preparation.

Neither word is universally better than the other. Your choice depends on the sentence structure and the meaning you want to express.

To avoid confusion, remember the principal forms of take: take, took, taken, and taking. Then identify the helping verb and grammatical function before choosing the correct form.

Frequently Asked Questions