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🎙Mistake Break Podcast - Episode 03

Audio Script

Welcome back to Mistake Break, the podcast where we fix tricky mistakes in less than 2 minutes! Let's jump right into a common one. Imagine someone saying: "I advice him to tell the police." WRONG! That’s because we used "advice" – A-D-V-I-C-E – which is a noun. But what we need is a verb and the verb we need here is "advise" – A-D-V-I-S-E. So let‘s correct the example "I advised him to tell the police," Think of it like this; I have just advised you, and hopefully, you listened to my advice. Now Let's look at a 4 more examples with "advise": The doctor advised that I get more rest. I would strongly advise that you do the exercises in my blog. I strongly advise you to listen carefully. And FINALLY I regret to advise you that this episode has come to its end. So, remember: advice is the noun, advise with the sound /z/ is the verb! And I advise you to Join us next time for another Mistake Break! 

Exercises:

Exercise 1: Spot the Difference 

Read the sentences below. Identify whether advice or advise should be used and correct any errors. 

My teacher gave me some great advise on my essay. 
I would strongly advice you to double-check your application form. 
Could you please advice me on the best course of action?
That's the worst piece of advise I have ever heard. 
She is the person to see; she can advice on legal matters. 

Exercise 2: Sentence Surgeon

Fill in the blanks with the correct word: advice or advise. Pay close attention to the word's role in the sentence (is a noun or a verb needed?). 

Thank you for the helpful __________. I'll keep it in mind. 
Can you __________ me on which computer I should buy? 
It is my professional __________ that you sell the shares now. 
The lawyer will __________ her client to remain silent. 
Let me give you a piece of __________. 


Exercise 3: Podcast Script Lexical Gaps 

Complete the transcript from podcast episode by filling in the blanks with the correct words. Focus on prepositions, collocations, and functional words. 


Host: Let's jump right (1)__________ a common one. Imagine someone saying: "I advice him to tell the police." WRONG. That’s because we used "advice" – A-D-V-I-C-E – which is a noun. But what we need is a verb... So let‘s correct the example "I advised him to tell the police," Think of it like this; I have just advised someone. And you listened (2)__________ my advice. Now Let's look at 4 more examples with "advise": "The doctor advised that I get more rest." "I would (3)__________ advise that you do the exercises in my blog." "I strongly advise you to listen carefully." And FINALLY "I regret (4)__________ advise you that this episode has come to its end." Host: So, remember: advice is the noun, advise with the sound /z/ is the verb! ... It’s uncountable, so you don't say "advices." we would rather say: a (5)__________ of advice, some advice, …. 

Answer Key

Exercise 1: Spot the Difference

  1. Correction: My teacher gave me some great advice on my essay.

    • The sentence needs a noun (the thing the teacher gave). "Some great" describes the noun.

    • Feedback & Further Examples: Remember, if you can replace the word with "a recommendation" or "an opinion," you need the noun, advice.

      • He offered me some financial advice.

      • I need your advice about a personal problem.

  2. Correction: I would strongly advise you to double-check your application form.

    • Explanation: The sentence needs a verb (the action of recommending). It follows the modal verb "would."

    • Feedback & Further Examples: When you see a pronoun (like 'you', 'him', 'her', 'us') immediately after the word, it's often the verb advise, as you are advising someone.

      • We advise all customers to read the terms and conditions.

      • The coach will advise the player on his technique.

  3. Correction: Could you please advise me on the best course of action?

    • Explanation: This sentence requires a verb to describe the action you want the person to perform.

    • Feedback & Further Examples: This is a direct request for someone to perform an action. You are asking them to advise you.

      • What would you advise me to do?

      • They advised us to wait.

  4. Correction: That's the worst piece of advice I have ever heard.

    • Explanation: The sentence needs a noun. The phrase "piece of" is a key clue that we are talking about the uncountable noun advice.

    • Feedback & Further Examples: We cannot count 'advice' (e.g., "one advice, two advices" is incorrect). We use phrases like "a piece of" or "some."

      • She gave me a useful piece of advice.

      • I'm not looking for advice right now.

  5. Correction: She is the person to see; she can advise on legal matters.

    • Explanation: After the modal verb "can," we need a base-form verb to describe her ability or function.

    • Feedback & Further Examples: Modal verbs (can, could, will, would, should, may, might) are always followed by a verb in its base form.

      • He should advise his boss about the issue.

      • We will advise you of any changes.

Exercise 2: Sentence Surgeon

  1. Answer: advice

    • Explanation: The article "the" and the adjective "helpful" point to a noun.

  2. Answer: advise

    • Explanation: The sentence needs a verb to go with the subject "you" (Can you advise me?).

  3. Answer: advice

    • Explanation: The possessive "my" and adjective "professional" indicate that a noun is needed.

  4. Answer: advise

    • Explanation: The modal verb "will" must be followed by a verb.

  5. Answer: advice

    • Explanation: The phrase "a piece of" is a clear signal that the noun is required.

Exercise 3: Podcast Script Lexical Gaps

  1. Answer: into

    • Explanation: The phrasal verb "to jump into" something means to start something quickly and enthusiastically.

  2. Answer: to

    • Explanation: The verb "listen" is followed by the preposition "to" when it has an object (you listen tosomething or someone).

  3. Answer: strongly

    • Explanation: "Strongly" is an adverb that collocates with "advise" to add emphasis, meaning the recommendation is very serious.

  4. Answer: to

    • Explanation: "Regret to advise" is a formal fixed expression used to deliver bad news. The structure is "regret + to-infinitive."

  5. Answer: piece

    • Explanation: Because "advice" is an uncountable noun, we use "a piece of" to refer to a single item of advice.

Bonus: Key Patterns & Takeaways

  • advise + someone + to + verb

I strongly advise you to listen carefully.

The doctor advised him to get more rest.

  • advise + that + clause

The doctor advised that I get more rest.

We advise that all passengers check in online.

  • advise + against + [verb]-ing

They advised against travelling alone at night.


 


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