🎙Mistake Break Podcast - Episode 4

The link to the videocast & podcast channel on telegram: https://t.me/englishwithmo7ammad

Hello & welcome Mistake Break, where we fix common errors in less than two minutes. Today, we're focusing on the word advice. 

You've probably heard or even said something like, "She gave me a good advice." simply that "a" in  ‘a good advice’ before "advice" is a red flag! Why? Because "advice" – is what we call an uncountable [noun] making it wrong to say a advice, but it’s super easy, think of it like water or sugar. You wouldn't say "a water" or "a sugar," would you? Just like those, "advice" doesn't have a plural form e.g., advices, or an indefinite article(s) like "a" or "an."

So, the correct way to say it is: "She gave me some good advice." We use "some," or "a piece of," or simply just say "good advice."

Here’s another mistake: "It is full of good advices on healthy eating." Uh-oh! That plural "advices" is a definite no-no! Just like you wouldn't say "waters" or "milks," you never say "advices." Even if you're talking about a lot of tips or suggestions, "advice" is always singular.

So the correct form of “good advices on healthy eating’’ is: "It is full of good advice on healthy eating." Or, if you want to emphasize tips, you could say, "It is full of good pieces of advice on healthy eating." so make the word ‘pieces’ plural,  "advice" stays singular.

So, remember, "advice" is uncountable, it doesn't take "a" or "an," and it never has an "s" at the end! Keep that in mind, and you'll be giving perfect advice every time you speak! My final advice for today is: Join us next time for another Mistake Break!

Of course. Here is a new set of follow-up exercises based on the second podcast transcript about "advice" as an uncountable noun.

Follow-Up Exercises: Uncountable "Advice"
Exercise 1: Spot the Difference
Exercise 2: Guided Practice: "Sentence Surgeon"
Exercise 3: Podcast Script Lexical Gaps
Answers & Feedback
Exercise 1: Spot the Difference
Exercise 2: Guided Practice: "Sentence Surgeon"
Exercise 3: Podcast Script Lexical Gaps
Bonus: Key Patterns & Takeaways

These three exercises will help you use the word correctly in any situation. Let's begin!

Read the sentences below. Find and correct the error in each one based on the rules for using "advice".

1. My boss gave me a very useful advice for the project.

2. The book contains many good advices for new managers.

3. I need to get an advice on which insurance to choose.

4. He is always giving out free advices to his friends.

5. Thank you for all the advices you have given me over the years.

Choose the correct option to fill in the blank in each sentence. Pay attention to the rules for uncountable nouns.

1. If you need help, you should ask the teacher for __________.

• a) an advice

• b) advice

• c) advices

2. She gave me __________ that helped me solve the problem.

• a) a great piece of advice

• b) a great advice

• c) great advices

3. His articles are always full of __________.

• a) many useful advices

• b) a lot of useful advice

• c) a useful advice

4. I asked two different friends, and they gave me two different __________.

• a) advices

• b) advice

• c) pieces of advice

Complete the transcript from the Mistake Break podcast episode by filling in the blanks with the correct words. Focus on the key terms related to uncountable nouns.

1. "She gave me a good advice" is wrong because "advice" is what we call an (1)__________ noun.

2. You wouldn't say "a water" or "a sugar," would you? Just like those, "advice" doesn't have a (2)__________ form.

3. So, the correct way to say it is: "She gave me (3)__________ good advice."

4. Even if you're talking about a lot of tips or suggestions, "advice" is always (4)__________.

5. If you want to emphasize tips, you could say, "It is full of good (5)__________ of advice."

1. Correction: My boss gave me some very useful advice / a very useful piece of advice for the project.

• Explanation: "Advice" is an uncountable noun, so it cannot be used with the indefinite article "a".

• Feedback & Further Examples: When you receive a single, specific recommendation, use the phrase "a piece of advice". If it's more general, "some advice" is perfect.

• Let me give you a piece of advice: always be on time.

• I need some advice about my career.

2. Correction: The book contains a lot of good advice for new managers.

• Explanation: "Advice" never takes a plural "s". We cannot say "advices".

• Feedback & Further Examples: Even when you mean many different suggestions, the word "advice" stays singular. Use quantifiers like "a lot of," "much," or "plenty of."

• He has plenty of advice to give.

• How much advice can you offer?

3. Correction: I need to get some advice / a piece of advice on which insurance to choose.

• Explanation: The article "an" cannot be used with the uncountable noun "advice".

• Feedback & Further Examples: This is the same rule as in the first sentence. The goal is to avoid "a/an" directly before "advice".

• Can I ask for some advice?

• He asked for a piece of advice from his mentor.

4. Correction: He is always giving out free advice to his friends.

• Explanation: The plural form "advices" is incorrect. The word remains "advice" no matter the quantity.

• Feedback & Further Examples: Remember the analogy from the podcast: you wouldn't say "free waters" or "free sugars" when speaking generally.

• This website offers free advice on legal matters.

• My mother's advice is always helpful.

5. Correction: Thank you for all the advice you have given me over the years.

• Explanation: Again, "advices" is not a word in this context. "All the" can be used with uncountable nouns like "advice," "information," or "water."

• Feedback & Further Examples: You can use "the" with advice when referring to specific advice that both people know about. The key is to avoid the plural "s".

• Did you follow the advice I gave you last week?

• All the advice he gave me was useless.

1. Answer: b) advice

• Explanation: "Advice" is the correct general, uncountable form. "An advice" and "advices" are incorrect.

2. Answer: a) a great piece of advice

• Explanation: To count a single instance of advice, we must use the phrase "a piece of".

3. Answer: b) a lot of useful advice

• Explanation: "A lot of" is a quantifier used for uncountable nouns. "Many... advices" is wrong because "advice" cannot be plural or counted with "many".

4. Answer: c) pieces of advice

• Explanation: To count more than one instance of advice, we make the word "piece" plural, not "advice".

1. Answer: uncountable

2. Answer: plural

3. Answer: some

4. Answer: singular

5. Answer: pieces

Learn these useful patterns and collocations with advice 

Take my advice and do the exercises.  

I gave you some advice on language errors. 

Most learners need advice on common errors, so share it with them.  

You didn’t ask me for advice but, here we go! 

Follow my advices errr advice! Sorry about the mistake.