testify/verify

    • Either one can work, and are correct.

    In a direct question, I would like "verify" better: Can you verify that Mr. Johnson was in the restaurant on the night of the murder?

    During a trial, to refer to a testimony made: "Mr X testified that MrJohnson was in the restaurant on the night of the murder.
     
    quietdandelion said:
    Thanks, Macsito and anothersmith.
    Thus, they are different in meanings, right? "Verify" means "prove/confirm" while "testify" refers to "give testimony."
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    Exactly, quietdandelion. So testify wouldn't work in your original sentence. You'd say 'Would you be willing to testify that...?' i.e. Would you be willing to stand up in court and give evidence to the effect that...?
     
    quietdandelion said:
    Can you testify/verify that Mr. Johnson was in the restaurant on the night of the murder?

    Do testify and verify work here and mean the same thing? Thanks.
    Click to expand...

    The meanings are different. If you say "do you testify," you are asking the person if they'd make a declaration of truth that Mr. Johnson was in the restaurant - you know for sure. If you verify, you just confirm that he was there.
     
    tomandjerryfan said:
    The meanings are different. If you say "do you testify," you are asking the person if they'd make a declaration of truth that Mr. Johnson was in the restaurant - you know for sure. If you verify, you just confirm that he was there.
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    In BE we'd have to say 'would you testify?', but 'can you verify?' would be fine. 'Can you testify?' would be asking whether the person was free to testify, not out of the country or whatever. I'm not sure when someone might say 'do you testify?' I don't think it's correct police or legal language.
     
    Thomas Tompion said:
    In BE we'd have to say 'would you testify?', but 'can you verify?' would be fine. 'Can you testify?' would be asking whether the person was free to testify, not out of the country or whatever. I'm not sure when someone might say 'do you testify?' I don't think it's correct police or legal language.
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    As a speaker of CaE, I'd have to agree. It's unlikely for a judge to ask a defendant if he/she testifies but rather if he/she would like to testify.

    Sorry for not being clear the last time.
     
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