Countable and uncountable nouns
Choose a, some, much and many, count amounts with units, and see why chicken or glass can have more than one meaning.
Advice or advise: suggestions and the action
Use advice as an uncountable noun, build common phrases, and choose advise when the sentence needs a verb.
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Learn
Read the examples, then check each idea as you go.
Advice is what someone suggests you should do. Advise is the action of giving that suggestion. Decide whether your sentence names the suggestion or describes someone giving it.
A suggestion about what to do
Advice helps someone choose an action. It may be useful, but a person can decide whether to follow it. Information gives facts; advice suggests what to do with a situation.
My advice is to send the form before Friday.
The office closes at five.
Use some advice
Advice is uncountable when it means suggestions. Use advice, some advice or a lot of advice. An adjective does not change this pattern: useful advice still has no a or an.
I need some advice about my job application.
She gave me useful advice.
Count separate suggestions
To count individual suggestions, use a piece of advice or pieces of advice. The number changes piece, while advice stays the same. Tip and suggestion are countable alternatives, though the best choice depends on context.
One piece of advice helped me prepare for the interview.
My teacher gave me two useful tips.
Give, offer and ask for advice
Give and offer describe providing advice. Ask for describes requesting it; get or receive describes obtaining it. Keep for after ask when a noun names what you want.
Could I ask you for some advice?
My cousin offered me advice about moving abroad.
Listen and then decide
Take someone's advice and follow someone's advice both mean act on the suggestion. Hearing advice does not mean following it. The verb tells the listener whether the suggestion affected your action.
I took Hana's advice and checked the address before leaving.
I heard his advice, but I chose another course.
Say what the advice concerns
Advice on and advice about can introduce the topic. Advice for often identifies the intended person or group. A helpful sentence makes both the topic and the person clear.
The guide offers advice on finding a room.
This advice is for people starting their first job.
Use advise for the action
When the sentence needs an action word, use advise. One useful pattern is advise + person + to + verb. Add not before to when the suggested action is something to avoid.
The tutor advised me to revise the introduction.
She advised us not to leave the booking until Friday.
The final sound changes
Advice ends with the /s/ sound in bus. Advise ends with the /z/ sound in buzz. Both words stress the second syllable. The final sound can help you hear whether someone names a suggestion or describes giving one.
Thanks for your advice.
Who can advise me?
Practice
Try the questions in order. Use a hint when you need one, then read the explanation after checking.
Use it in your own words
A friend is preparing for a job interview. Write three or four sentences giving two practical suggestions. Use advice once and advise once.
Write in English, then compare your writing with the checklist. This activity uses self-review, so it does not give a score.
Check your writing
Read an example response
My advice is to read about the company before the interview. I also advise you to prepare one question about the role. Write down the time and address so you can plan your journey.
Test
Answer without hints. Your result shows which questions to review; you can change your answers and try again.
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Helpful before this lesson
Countable and uncountable nounsAdvice is uncountable. Review how to describe one item or an amount.
