What are the two main types of evidence?

• A. Documentary and oral.
• B. Witness and expert.
• C. Real and circumstantial.
• D. Primary and secondary.

Answer: (B)

Evidence in civil practice is commonly divided into two broad sources: the testimony of witnesses and the input of experts. A witness provides factual evidence about what happened, who did what, when, and other observable details, either through oral testimony in court or via documents they prepared or observed. An expert, by contrast, offers opinion evidence on matters that require specialized knowledge beyond a layperson’s understanding—such as technical, medical, or scientific issues. The court relies on both kinds to build a clear picture of the facts and to interpret complex issues, with the expert’s opinion helping the judge apply the facts to legal standards. Other ways of classifying evidence, like form (documentary vs oral) or the nature of the facts (real vs circumstantial), describe different aspects but do not capture the fundamental split between those who state facts and those who interpret them for technical matters.