Meaning & use
giving evidence
Last updated
“giving evidence” is a form of “give evidence”.
Meanings
phrasefixed phraselegallaw
speaking in a court of law to tell what you know about a case
Grammar: Used as a verb phrase: She is giving evidence. It does not take an object.
Patterns
- give evidence in court
- give evidence against someone
- give evidence at a trial
The witness is giving evidence in court today.
She gave evidence against her former business partner.
He was too frightened to give evidence at the trial.
phrasefixed phrase
showing or providing facts that support an idea or belief
Grammar: More general and less formal than the legal sense; often followed by of or that.
Patterns
- give evidence of something
- give evidence that
The broken window gives evidence of a break-in.
His calm answers gave evidence that he had prepared well.
Word forms
| base form | give evidence |
|---|---|
| third person singular | gives evidence |
| past tense | gave evidence |
| past participle | given evidence |
| -ing form | giving evidence |
Common combinations
- give evidence in court
- She will give evidence in court next week.
- give evidence against someone
- He agreed to give evidence against the gang.
- refuse to give evidence
- The witness refused to give evidence.
- give evidence at an inquiry
- Several doctors gave evidence at the inquiry.
Synonyms and how they differ
- testify
- The usual American word and also common in British legal writing; it means the same but is a single verb.
- give testimony
- More formal and mainly American; it sounds slightly more official than give evidence.
Word family
- evidence noun
- Facts or objects that show whether something is true.
- evidential adjective
- Formal: relating to evidence.
Commonly confused: giving evidence or proof?
giving evidence vs proof
Proof is stronger and means evidence that removes all doubt; evidence only helps to show what is likely.
Practice
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly in a legal context?
Choose one answer.
In legal English we say give evidence in a trial or in court. The other prepositions do not fit this fixed phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “giving evidence”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.