gave an interview

USAGE SUMMARY

"gave an interview" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to someone giving an interview, either in real life or on the radio, television, or other media format. For example: "The famous actor gave an interview to promote his new movie."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Volquez gave an interview in Spanish about his father.

The New Yorker

He gave an interview a few weeks ago.

Independent

He even gave an interview to a radio station.

The New York Times

Ghannouchi gave an interview to the Financial Times recently.

The New Yorker

He also gave an interview to Ladies Home JournalLadies Home Journal

The New York Times

On Wednesday, Henderson gave an interview to gaming site Eurogamer.

The Guardian - Tech

Ms. Crow gave an interview to CNN describing the tumor as "a bump in the road".

The New York Times

On December 23rd, I gave an interview on the NBC program "NewsNewsNews.O QUESTIONNAIRE.

The New Yorker

"Evan gave an interview and said he wanted to win the gold for me," Carroll said.

The New York Times - Sports

He gave an interview to The Poughkeepsie Journal and calmly described the 30-second call.

The New York Times

Ms. Diallo spoke with Newsweek magazine and also gave an interview to ABC's Robin Roberts.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "gave an interview" when you want to emphasize the action of someone providing information or their perspective to a journalist or media outlet. Ensure that the context clearly indicates who gave the interview and to whom.

Common error

Avoid using the past perfect tense (had given) unnecessarily. "Gave an interview" is typically sufficient to indicate the action occurred in the past, unless you need to establish a sequence of past events.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gave an interview" functions as a verb phrase, where "gave" is the main verb indicating the action of providing information, and "an interview" is the direct object. Ludwig's examples confirm this usage is common in describing media interactions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Wiki

5%

Science

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "gave an interview" is a verb phrase widely used, particularly in news and media, to describe the act of someone providing information or opinions to a journalist or media outlet. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage. While generally neutral in register, it can also appear in more formal or professional contexts. Alternatives such as "granted an interview" or "sat down for an interview" offer subtle variations in meaning. Remember to consider the specific context and the desired nuance when choosing between these options. Avoid using the past perfect tense unnecessarily. By understanding these nuances, you can effectively and accurately convey the intended meaning in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did an interview

A more colloquial way of saying "gave an interview".

granted an interview

Emphasizes permission or willingness to give the interview.

participated in an interview

Emphasizes active involvement in the interview process.

spoke in an interview

Focuses on the content shared during the interview.

sat down for an interview

Highlights the act of engaging in a more formal, often longer, interview setting.

addressed questions in an interview

Emphasizes the question-and-answer aspect of the interview.

offered an interview

Indicates that someone has presented or made themselves available for an interview.

shared thoughts in an interview

Highlights the sharing of personal opinions and ideas during the interview.

appeared in an interview

Focuses on the public presentation aspect of the interview, similar to a performance.

was interviewed by

Shifts the focus to the interviewer, rather than the person giving the interview.

FAQs

How can I use "gave an interview" in a sentence?

You can use "gave an interview" to describe someone providing information to a journalist or media outlet. For example, "The CEO "gave an interview" about the company's new strategy."

What are some alternatives to saying "gave an interview"?

Some alternatives include "granted an interview", "sat down for an interview", or "participated in an interview", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "has given an interview" instead of "gave an interview"?

Both are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Gave an interview" is simple past tense, indicating a completed action in the past. "Has given an interview" is present perfect tense, which can imply relevance to the present or a repeated action. Choose the tense that best fits the context.

What's the difference between "gave an interview" and "received an interview"?

"Gave an interview" means someone provided information in an interview. In contrast, someone cannot receive an interview. You can say that someone "had an interview" or "received an invitation for an interview" but never simply "received an interview".