Narrative vs That testimony from those people

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Narrative

Top 2,000 (common)B1noun

That testimony from those people

Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Narrative
 NarrativeThat testimony from those people
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˈnærətɪv/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈnærətɪv/"]/🇬🇧 //ðæt ˈtɛstəˌmoʊni frəm ðoʊz ˈpiːpəl//🇺🇸 //ðæt ˈtɛstəˌmoʊni frəm ðoʊz ˈpipəl//
MeaningA story or a description of events.the statement given by those people
ExampleThe narrative of the story captivated the audience from the very beginning.The judge considered *that testimony from those people* very carefully.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 5,000 (fairly common)
CEFR levelB1-
Part of speechnoun
Collocationspopular, compelling, coherent, construct, create, develop, be based on something, form, style, technique, in a/​the narrative, popular, compelling, coherent, construct, create, develop, be based on something, form, style, technique, in a/​the narrativegive testimony from, provide testimony from, hear testimony from
Antonymsfact, truth-
Common mistakesConfused with 'narration', which refers specifically to the act of telling a story., Using 'narrative' as a verb instead of a noun., Mispronouncing the word as 'narr-active'.Mistakenly using 'those testimony' instead of 'that testimony', Confusing 'testimony' with 'testamonial', Using 'that' instead of 'this' in close contexts
Usage notesUsed often in literature and storytelling contexts. Suitable for both formal and informal discussions about stories. Avoid using it in overly casual settings where simpler terms like 'story' might be preferred.Used in discussions or legal contexts. Avoid using in casual conversation. This phrase can imply the importance of the people's statements.

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That testimony from those people

Frequently asked questions: Narrative vs That testimony from those people

What's the difference between Narrative and That testimony from those people?

Narrative: A story or a description of events. That testimony from those people: the statement given by those people

Which is more common: Narrative and That testimony from those people?

Narrative is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Narrative: The narrative of the story captivated the audience from the very beginning. That testimony from those people: The judge considered *that testimony from those people* very carefully.

Can I use Narrative and That testimony from those people interchangeably?

Not always. Narrative and That testimony from those people are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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