he was testified

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he was testified" is not correct in English.
The correct form would be "he testified" or "he was a witness." Example: "During the trial, he testified about what he saw that night."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

This was the explanation offered by Lloyd C. Blankfein, chief executive of Goldman Sachs, when he was testified before a Senate subcommittee in 2010 about the firm's sale of a synthetic derivative obligation that was the basis for an S.E.C. civil fraud suit.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

He was testifying in a Florida court, accused of road rage.

The New Yorker

He was testifying to a Senate foreign relations panel today, shortly after the sanctions vote.

Independent

Mr. Zazi cried when talking about his love for the former high-school classmate against whom he was testifying.

The New York Times

He was testifying in Federal District Court in Manhattan in the civil antitrust trial brought against Apple by the Justice Department.

The New York Times

(He was testifying under a deal that let him off with a 14-year sentence for his 20 confessed murders).

The New York Times

He seemed uneasy, and stared at his shoes as he was testifying.

The New Yorker

"Jeff explained when he appeared before the House why he was testifying," Mr. Hiler said.

The New York Times

He was testifying in the fraud trial of Mr. Lay and the former chief executive, Jeffrey K. Skilling.

The New York Times

Even as he was testifying, A.I.G. accused him of playing a central role in A.I.G.

The New York Times

He was testifying today against another Hudson County elected official charged with bribery.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to someone giving evidence in court or another formal setting, use the active voice and say "he testified" or "he was testifying". Using the passive voice with "testified" is grammatically incorrect.

Common error

Avoid using the passive construction "he was testified" as it is grammatically incorrect. The correct forms are the active voice "he testified" or the continuous form "he was testifying". Remember that testimony is something a person gives, not something that is done to them.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was testified" is grammatically incorrect. The verb "testify" is used intransitively, meaning it does not take a direct object. Therefore, it's not used in the passive voice in this way. As Ludwig AI highlights, the accurate forms are "he testified" (active past simple) or "he was testifying" (active past continuous).

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he was testified" is grammatically incorrect. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, the correct phrasing should be either the active past simple form "he testified" or the past continuous form "he was testifying". The incorrect form, although found in some sources, should be avoided. Using the correct phrasing ensures clarity and grammatical accuracy. The available examples and analyses emphasize the importance of using the active voice when describing someone giving testimony. Remember, "testify" is an action performed by a person, not something done to them in this context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he testified

Omits the auxiliary verb "was" and uses the correct past tense form of the verb "testify".

he was giving testimony

Replaces "testified" with the noun form "testimony" and uses the verb "giving".

he was on the stand

Uses an idiomatic expression to indicate that someone is testifying in court.

he provided evidence

Replaces "testified" with "provided evidence", focusing on the act of giving information.

he bore witness

Uses a more formal and slightly archaic phrase to indicate providing testimony.

he deposed

Uses a formal term for giving sworn testimony, typically outside of court.

he made a statement

Uses a more general phrase to indicate that someone provided information.

he recounted the events

Focuses on the act of describing what happened, as part of giving testimony.

he offered his account

Highlights the personal perspective within the testimony.

he related the facts

Emphasizes the factual aspect of the testimony.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say someone gave evidence?

The correct ways to say someone gave evidence are "he testified", "he was testifying", or "he gave testimony". The phrase "he was testified" is grammatically incorrect.

Is it correct to say "he was testified" in a legal context?

No, "he was testified" is not correct in a legal or any other context. The correct phrasing is "he testified". For example: "During the trial, "he testified" about the events of that night".

What can I say instead of "he was testified"?

Instead of "he was testified", use alternatives such as ""he testified"", "he was testifying", or "he gave testimony".

Which is correct, "he testified" or "he was testified"?

"He testified" is the correct form. "He was testified" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided.