Taken and taking are both correct forms of the verb take, but they do different jobs in a sentence. The choice depends mainly on grammar and sentence structure.
Taken is the past participle of take. Taking is the present participle and can also work as a gerund, or noun-like form.
Because both forms come from the same verb, they can appear in sentences about similar actions. The important question is not which word is generally correct. It is which form fits the structure of your sentence.
Quick Answer
Both taken and taking are correct, but they are not interchangeable.
Use taken when the sentence requires the past participle, especially in perfect constructions or passive voice:
- I have taken the test.
- The picture was taken yesterday.
Use taking when the sentence requires the -ing form, especially for an ongoing action or an activity treated as a noun:
- She is taking the test.
- Taking notes helps me remember details.
A quick pattern to remember is:
have/has/had + taken
am/is/are/was/were + taking when the sentence describes an action in progress.
Why People Confuse Them
The confusion is natural because taken and taking are two forms of the same verb.
Compare:
- He has taken the course.
- He is taking the course.
The first sentence uses the past participle after has. The second uses the -ing form after is.
The forms also occur in different constructions. Taken can appear in passive sentences, while taking can function as a gerund:
- The package was taken to the front desk.
- Taking the train saves time.
So the surrounding words matter. Looking only at the two words can make the choice seem harder than it really is.
Key Differences At A Glance
| Context | Best Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Present perfect | taken | The perfect construction uses the past participle |
| Past perfect | taken | Had is followed by the past participle |
| Passive voice | taken | Passive constructions use the past participle |
| Present progressive | taking | Be + -ing expresses an action in progress |
| Past progressive | taking | Was/were + -ing expresses an ongoing past action |
| Gerund or activity | taking | The -ing form can function as a noun |
Compact comparison
- Taken: past participle; commonly used in perfect and passive constructions.
- Taking: present participle; used in progressive constructions and as a gerund.
- Neither: is automatically more formal or more correct than the other.
- Key clue: check the surrounding grammar before choosing.
Meaning and Usage Difference
Taken does not simply mean “something happened in the past.” It is a grammatical form that normally works with another verb in constructions such as the perfect and passive.
For example:
She has taken the documents.
Here, has taken is a perfect construction.
Taken also appears in passive sentences:
The documents were taken from the office.
Here, the sentence focuses on what happened to the documents.
Taken can also describe a resulting state:
Sorry, this seat is taken.
That sentence does not mean the same thing as an ordinary completed-action statement. It tells us that the seat is occupied or unavailable.
Taking, by contrast, is the -ing form of take. It commonly appears in progressive constructions:
We are taking a different route today.
It can also describe an activity:
Taking short breaks can help you stay focused.
Here, taking is functioning as a gerund. The sentence treats the activity itself as the subject.
The key difference is therefore grammatical function, not simply past versus present.
Tone, Context, and Formality
Neither taken nor taking is inherently formal or informal. Both are normal in American English across everyday conversation, workplace writing, academic writing, and other standard contexts.
For example, a professional message might say:
We have taken the necessary steps to correct the issue.
A casual conversation might say:
I’m taking a break.
The different forms are required because the sentences have different structures. Changing the context from casual to formal does not normally change taken into taking or vice versa.
This also means that choosing one form because it “sounds more professional” is usually the wrong approach. First identify the grammatical structure, then choose the form that belongs in it.
Which One Should You Use?
Choose taken when your sentence needs the past participle.
Common patterns include:
- have taken
- has taken
- had taken
- was taken
- were taken
- has been taken
Examples:
The manager has taken responsibility for the mistake.
The photos were taken during the ceremony.
Choose taking when your sentence needs the -ing form.
Common patterns include:
- am taking
- is taking
- are taking
- was taking
- were taking
- enjoy taking
- about taking
Examples:
Maya is taking a photography class.
They talked about taking a different approach.
The form should follow the sentence structure rather than your preferred style.
When One Choice Sounds Wrong
A form can sound wrong when it does not fit the construction around it.
For example:
She has taking the exam.
This is incorrect because has requires the past participle in this perfect construction.
Correct:
She has taken the exam.
Now consider:
She is taken the exam.
This does not work when the intended meaning is that she is currently doing the exam. The progressive structure needs the -ing form.
Correct:
She is taking the exam.
But taken can correctly follow a form of be in a passive construction:
The photograph was taken by a professional.
The lesson is simple: do not decide from the word alone. Check the entire verb phrase.
Common Mistakes (and Quick Fixes)
Mistake 1: Using taken as the simple past
Incorrect:
I taken the bus yesterday.
Correct:
I took the bus yesterday.
Taken is the past participle. The simple past form is took.
Mistake 2: Using taking after have
Incorrect:
She has taking the course.
Correct:
She has taken the course.
Mistake 3: Using taken for an ongoing action
Incorrect:
They are taken notes.
Correct:
They are taking notes.
Mistake 4: Using taking in a passive sentence
Incorrect:
The picture was taking yesterday.
Correct:
The picture was taken yesterday.
Mistake 5: Missing the gerund use
Incorrect:
Taking notes is useful.
There is no mistake in this sentence. Here taking names the activity and functions as a gerund.
Everyday Examples
Here are practical examples showing how the forms work in modern American English:
- I have taken the required training.
The past participle follows have. - Jordan is taking an online class this semester.
The -ing form describes an ongoing activity. - The package was taken to the wrong address.
The past participle forms a passive construction. - Taking regular breaks helps me stay focused.
Taking functions as the subject of the sentence. - She had taken the earlier flight before the weather changed.
Had + taken forms the past perfect. - We were taking photos when the rain started.
Were + taking shows an action in progress. - The seat is taken, so we’ll choose another one.
Taken describes the current state of the seat. - They discussed taking the train instead of driving.
Taking follows the verb discussed in this activity-based construction.
Dictionary-Style Word Details
Verb
Taken: The past participle of take. It is used in perfect constructions and passive voice.
Example:
She has taken the keys.
The keys were taken from the drawer.
Taking: The present participle or -ing form of take. It is used in progressive constructions and in other structures where the -ing form is required.
Example:
She is taking the keys.
They discussed taking the keys with them.
Noun
Taken: Not commonly used as a noun in standard US English. Its main role in this comparison is as the past participle of take, although it can also appear in adjective-like uses such as “the seat is taken.”
Taking: Can function as a noun-like gerund.
Example:
Taking notes improves my concentration.
As a dictionary noun, taking can also refer to the act of taking or something that is taken, depending on context.
Synonyms
Taken: There is no single exact synonym because its meaning depends on the construction. In a sentence such as “The photo was taken,” a closest plain alternative might be captured, but that does not replace taken in every use.
Taking: There is also no universal synonym. Depending on context, closest plain alternatives may include doing, receiving, carrying, or accepting, but the exact alternative depends on what take means in the sentence.
Neither form has a single synonym that works in every context.
Example Sentences
Taken:
The committee has taken several steps to improve the process.
The photograph was taken outside the museum.
Taking:
I am taking a short break.
Taking the bus is convenient for my schedule.
These examples show why the surrounding structure matters more than the forms alone.
Word History
Both forms come from the verb take.
The history of take reaches back through Middle English to late Old English tacan, with a Scandinavian source such as Old Norse taka. The historical forms help explain why take has an irregular past pattern: take, took, taken.
Taking developed as the regular -ing form of take. Historical sources also record taking as a present-participle adjective from the late 15th century.
The history is useful background, but modern writers mainly need to remember the grammatical pattern.
Phrases Containing
Common expressions with taken include:
- taken seriously
- taken into account
- taken by surprise
- taken for granted
- taken care of
- taken part in
Common expressions with taking include:
- taking notes
- taking a break
- taking action
- taking responsibility
- taking part
- taking care
- taking advantage
The form changes because the grammatical construction changes.
FAQs
Is “taken” or “taking” correct?
Both are correct, but they serve different grammatical roles. Taken is the past participle of take, while taking is the present participle and can also function as a gerund. The sentence structure determines which form belongs there.
Can taken and taking be used interchangeably?
No. They cannot normally replace each other without changing the grammar or meaning. “She has taken the course” uses a perfect construction, while “She is taking the course” uses a progressive construction. The helping verb is an important clue.
Is “I have taking” correct?
No. “I have taken” is correct because have is followed by the past participle in a perfect construction. “I am taking” is also correct, but it uses a different pattern. The form should match the auxiliary verb and intended meaning.
Can taking be a noun?
Yes. Taking can function as a gerund, which means the -ing form acts as a noun in the sentence. For example, “Taking notes helps me remember details.” Here, taking names an activity rather than forming a continuous verb phrase.
Can taken appear without have?
Yes. Taken commonly appears with forms of be in passive constructions, as in “The photo was taken yesterday.” It can also describe a state, as in “The seat is taken.” It is not, however, the simple past form of take.
Is either form more formal in US English?
No. Neither taken nor taking is inherently more formal. Both appear in casual conversation, workplace writing, academic prose, and everyday instructions. The choice depends on grammar, sentence structure, and meaning, not on whether the setting is formal or informal.
Conclusion
Taken and taking are both correct, but they belong to different grammatical patterns.
Taken is the past participle of take. It commonly appears in perfect constructions and passive voice, as in has taken and was taken.
Taking is the present participle and can also function as a gerund. It commonly appears in progressive constructions such as is taking and in activity-based structures such as taking notes.
When you are unsure, look at the words around the form. Ask whether the sentence needs a past participle, an ongoing -ing form, or a noun-like activity. That approach will usually make the correct choice clear.
