🎓 學習英文English version
evidence 是甚麼意思？
evidence (of / for sth)
/ˈevɪdəns/
＝ 證據、證明某事屬實的事實或資料
evidence 是不可數名詞：不說 an evidence 或 evidences。要數一件件證據，就說 a piece of evidence、two pieces of evidence。
簡單解釋
evidence 是讓人相信某件事是真的資料：數據、研究結果、引文、照片、證人證供都可以是 evidence。
它和 information、advice 一樣是不可數名詞，所以後面不加 s，前面不用 a。想強調「很多」就說 a lot of evidence、strong evidence。
寫 essay 時，論點（claim）要有 evidence 支持，再加上解釋，說明證據怎樣證明你的論點。
evidence 的 5 個意思
- evidence that something is true證據、證明學術寫作
There is strong evidence that sleep affects memory.
有充分證據顯示睡眠會影響記憶力。
- evidence of something某事存在或發生過的跡象常用
The survey found little evidence of cheating in online exams.
調查發現網上考試作弊的跡象很少。
- evidence for a claim or theory支持某說法或理論的證據研究
The study provides evidence for the link between exercise and mood.
這項研究為運動與情緒的關係提供了證據。
- evidence in court（法律）證據、證供一般
The CCTV footage was used as evidence in court.
閉路電視片段在法庭上用作證據。
- evident and evidently明顯的；明顯地學術寫作
It is evident from the graph that sales fell after 2020.
從圖表可見，銷量在 2020 年後下跌。
句式和用法
| 句式 | 例句 |
|---|---|
| there is little / no / growing evidence that… | There is little evidence that homework improves results in primary school. 沒有甚麼證據顯示家課能提升小學生的成績。 |
| evidence suggests / shows that… | Evidence suggests that students learn better in short sessions. 有證據顯示學生分段短時間溫習效果較好。 |
| a piece of evidence | The most convincing piece of evidence is the 2022 census. 最有說服力的證據是 2022 年的人口普查。 |
| provide / find / present evidence | You need to provide evidence for every claim in your essay. 文章中的每個論點都需要有證據支持。 |
| be supported by evidence | This argument is not supported by evidence from the sources. 這個論點沒有資料中的證據支持。 |
真實場景例句
👩🏫 老師批改 DSE 議論文
Teacher: Your argument is clear, but where is your evidence? Add a figure or an example.
你的論點清晰，但證據在哪裡？加一個數據或例子。
Ka Yan: Can I use the news report we read in class?
可以用堂上讀過的那篇新聞報道嗎？
Teacher: Yes, and explain how it supports your point.
可以，還要解釋它怎樣支持你的論點。
📚 圖書館找文獻
Sam: I found three papers, but the evidence is mixed.
我找到三篇論文，但證據有正有反。
Winnie: That is fine. Say so in the literature review.
沒問題，在文獻綜述中如實說明就可以。
🔬 寫實驗報告的討論部分
These results provide further evidence for the hypothesis that temperature affects the rate of reaction.
這些結果進一步支持溫度會影響反應速率的假設。
常見錯誤
✗ There are many evidences to prove my point.
✓ There is a lot of evidence to support my point.
evidence 不可數，不加 s，動詞用 is；學術寫作中 support 比 prove 更審慎。
✗ This is an evidence that the policy failed.
✓ This is evidence that the policy failed. / This is one piece of evidence that the policy failed.
不可數名詞前不用 a / an；要數一件，就用 a piece of evidence。
✗ The evidence proves that social media causes depression.
✓ The evidence suggests that social media may contribute to depression.
研究很少能百分百「證明」因果；用 suggests、indicates 和 may，語氣更準確、更像學術寫作。
✗ It is evidence that the city is ageing.
✓ It is evident that the city is ageing.
「很明顯」要用形容詞 evident：It is evident that…；evidence 是名詞。
改寫示範 ✨
一段大學 essay 的論點段落：用 Dictionify 的 Polish 把整段改得自然又專業，刪去的字劃走，新加的字標示出來。
Many evidences prove that working part-time is bad for students. For example, my friend works in a café and his result become worse. So it is evidence that part-time job affect study.
Many evidences prove There is some evidence that working long part-time is bad working hours can affect students’ grades. A 2021 survey of local undergraduates, for students. For example, my friend works in found that students working more than 15 hours a café and his result become worse. So it is week had lower GPAs. However, this evidence does not show that part-time job affect study. work itself causes poorer results.
- Many evidences prove → There is some evidence that：evidence 不可數；用 some evidence 和 can affect，避免把話說滿。
- my friend works in a café 只是個人經驗，說服力弱；換成有來源的調查數據，才是學術 evidence。
- So it is evidence that → this evidence does not show that…causes：補一句說明證據的限制，顯示你懂得批判地看資料。
近義和相反說法
| 說法 | 意思 | 分別 |
|---|---|---|
| proof | 證明、鐵證 | proof 是足以完全證實的證據，程度比 evidence 強；學術寫作中較少用。 |
| data | 數據 | 指收集到的數字和資料；數據經過分析後才成為支持論點的 evidence。 |
| sign / indication | 跡象、表示 | 較弱、較間接，表示「有跡象」，可數：a sign of…。 |
| support | 支持（的資料） | 常作動詞：The data support this view，避免重複用 evidence。 |
相反：assumption (假定、未經證實的想法)、speculation (猜測、推測)
小測驗
選一個答案，立即看結果。
哪一句是正確的？
答案：B。evidence 不可數，要數量時說 pieces of evidence。
以下哪一句最適合放在研究報告中？
答案：C。evidence 不可數，而且學術寫作用 suggests 和 may 較審慎準確。
"It is ______ from the table that more students now take the bus." 空格應填……
答案：A。It is evident that… 表示「很明顯」，要用形容詞 evident。
常見問題
為甚麼 evidence 不能加 s？
英文把 evidence 看成一整體的「資料」，和 information、advice、research 一樣不可數。要數的話用 a piece of evidence、several pieces of evidence；要強調多就用 a lot of evidence、strong evidence。
evidence of 和 evidence for 有甚麼分別？
evidence of 多指某事存在或發生過的跡象，例如 evidence of damage；evidence for 多指支持某個說法或理論，例如 evidence for the theory。兩者有時可互換，但 evidence for 在學術寫作中討論論點時更常見。
DSE essay 中，甚麼可以當作 evidence？
有來源的數據、研究結果、新聞事件、專家意見和具體例子都可以。「我朋友說」或空泛的「很多人認為」說服力弱。用了證據後，記得加一兩句解釋它如何支持你的論點。
evidence 可以當動詞嗎？
可以，但很正式而且少見，例如 "as evidenced by the rise in rents"（從租金上升可見）。學生寫作時用 show、suggest、demonstrate 會自然得多。
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