picked up vs picking up

Both "picked up" and "picking up" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Picked up" is the past tense and past participle form of the verb "pick up," while "picking up" is the present participle form. The choice between them depends on the tense and structure of the sentence.

Last updated: March 22, 2024 • 968 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English as the past tense and past participle form of the verb "pick up."

"picked up "

Use "picked up" when referring to an action that was completed in the past. For example, "He picked up the book from the table."

Examples:

She picked up her keys before leaving the house.
The children picked up all the toys in the room.
I have picked up some useful tips from the workshop.
He had picked up a few words of Spanish during his trip.
The store clerk picked up the phone to answer a call.

Show examples from the web [+]

Probably where he picked up his habit.
This morning, we picked up an old lady matching her description exactly.
He got picked up last night.
You've been picked up for drunk and disorderly twice since 2009.
I picked up a copy of the Fakt.
I picked up a few lessons since then.
We picked up one of the bad plans.
I was the first one that they picked up.
I heard you picked up that psycho, Norelli.
I picked up this fragrance on you back at the office.
He picked up all of our players after the incidents with the Washingtons.
They just picked up that commie priest, Father Sobrino.
Choo-Choo, you got picked up by.
They picked up your daughter early this morning.
And I just picked up two more cases this morning.
Brass just picked up Kristi Holt.
Chicago PD just picked up Goldenbeast.
Rad sensors picked up a surge of exotic particles.
Our satellite picked up two thermal images.
When that gang member picked up his carrot...

Alternatives:

grabbed
lifted
collected
acquired
retrieved

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English as the present participle form of the verb "pick up."

"picking up"

Use "picking up" when describing an ongoing action in the present. For example, "She is picking up the toys from the floor."

Examples:

He is picking up his dry cleaning after work.
They are picking up some groceries at the store.
She was picking up the pieces of broken glass.
I will be picking up my friend from the airport tomorrow.
The robot is picking up objects and placing them in a bin.

Show examples from the web [+]

You can't just go around picking up vagrants and killing them.
We're picking up Lilly at her sleepover.
Sir, I'm picking up mobile bandwidth low latency transmissions.
Captain, I'm picking up a contact headed for the harbor.
You must be picking up a second signal.
It's picking up faces with the same dimensions.
I'm picking up Luke from his wilderness trip.
I thought you were picking up g Giorgio tonight.
You walk around downtown Brooklyn picking up garbage.
Sensors are picking up elevated neutrino readings.
Sensors are picking up ionised L-band emissions.
And yet I'm always picking up the check.
I'm picking up what you're laying down.
The satellite's picking up another reading.
I'm picking up a shift.
Sir, I'm picking up something on the radar.
I had drivers picking up every can from that batch.
I spent the last month watching TV to learn techniques for picking up ladies.
Yes, picking up for Dunphy.
His process speeds are picking up.

Alternatives:

collecting
gathering
retrieving
lifting
taking

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picked up vs picking up

"picked up "

"picking up"

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