Participants, at the court session

[Rachel Adams]

Does "at the court session" and "participants" and "in court" sound idiomatic? I am talking about my father's case. He's a lawyer.

"I was at the court session. The participants listened to the lawyer carefully. That day my father had a very difficult case in court."

 

[emsr2d2]

What do you mean by "the court session"? Why not just use "trial"?

 

[Rachel Adams]

What do you mean by "the court session"? Why not just use "trial"?

Yes, that's what I mean. Should it be written in the following way below? And should it be "a/the" trial?
"I was at the/a trial. The participants listened to the lawyer carefully. That day my father had a very difficult case in court."

 

[Tdol]

I was in court today. Both/all parties listened carefully to the lawyer.

 

[Rachel Adams]

I was in court today. Both/all parties listened carefully to the lawyer.

Is it possible to use "carefully" at the end of the sentence?

 

[Rachel Adams]

I was in court today. Both/all parties listened carefully to the lawyer.

And if I use "trial" or "hearing", should I use "at a hearing" or "at the hearing", "in a trial", "in the trial", "at a trial", "at the trial?"

 

[Barque]

Does "at the court session" and "participants" and "in court" sound idiomatic? I am talking about my father's case. He's a lawyer.

"I was at the court session. The participants listened to the lawyer carefully. That day my father had a very difficult case in court."

My father's a lawyer. I was in [the] court when he was arguing a case. Everyone there listened carefully. It was a difficult case.

 

[Barque]

Yes, that's what I mean. Should it be written in the following way below? And should it be "a/the" trial?
"I was at the/a trial. The participants listened to the lawyer carefully. That day my father had a very difficult case in court."

I was trial where my father appeared/where my father represented one of the parties.

Edit: Typo - I was at a trial...

 

[Barque]

Is it possible to use "carefully" at the end of the sentence?

Yes.

 

[Barque]

And if I use "trial" or "hearing", should I use "at a hearing" or "at the hearing", "in a trial", "in the trial", "at a trial", "at the trial?"

Depends. The use of "a' and 'the" is difficult for people whose first language doesn't have articles. Refer to the answers above. It depends on the sentence and the overall context.

 

[Barque]

I'm not very sure what you mean by "participants". Do you mean the parties to the case? Or do you mean everyone listening to what was going on in court (which would include the lawyers, the court officials, people waiting for the next hearing, everyone who was there)?

 

[Tarheel]

Perhaps:

My father was in court today. He was arguing a difficult case.

There's a saying in English: "If it was easy anybody could do it."

It's a bit odd to say that people listened carefully. In fact, we usually wouldn't bother to mention the listening at all. After all, that's what they do in court -- while some people talk others listen.

 

[Rachel Adams]

I'm not very sure what you mean by "participants". Do you mean the parties to the case? Or do you mean everyone listening to what was going on in court (which would include the lawyers, the court officials, people waiting for the next hearing, everyone who was there)?

Yes, I meant everyone present.

 

[Rachel Adams]

Depends. The use of "a' and 'the" is difficult for people whose first language doesn't have articles. Refer to the answers above. It depends on the sentence and the overall context.

So

1. I was at a trial.
2. I was in a trial.
3. I was at the trial.
4. I was in the trial.
5.I was at the hearing.
6. I was at a hearing. Not "in a/the hearing."
7. I was in/at (the) court.
8. I was in/at a court. Does the indefinite article also work?

Do you mean all of the above all possible depending on the context and the difference between "a" first mention and "the" specific, etc?

 

[Barque]

Does the indefinite article also work?

Yes.

Do you mean all of the above all possible depending on the context and the difference between "a" first mention and "the" specific, etc?

Yes.