2019-09-01 ‘Advice’ and ‘advise’  – Learners’ Questions

This week’s question

What’s the difference betwen ‘advise’ and ‘advise’? – Shahnaz

Answer this

What difference in pronunciation is there between ‘advice’ and ‘advise’?

Language points

Advice
Advice is an uncountable noun. It’s pronounced with an /s/. It means an ‘opinion, recommendation or suggestion by someone that you do something in a certain situation’.

Advice: use
Advice is commonly followed by the prepositions ‘about’ or ‘on’. We often use advice with the verbs ‘give’ and ‘take’. You can ‘do something on someone’s advice’. Advice can be followed by an infinitive verb. To make advice countable, use ‘a piece of’ – a piece of advice.  

• You need my advice about advice.
• My friend gave me some relationship advice, but I didn’t take it.
• On my father’s advice I became a teacher.
• My advice is to call the doctor first thing in the morning.
• I have three pieces of advice: brush, floss and use mouthwash.

Advise
Advise is a regular verb. It is pronounced with an /z/. It means ‘give advice’ or ‘give someone a suggestion opinion or recommednation as to what they should do in a certain situation’.

Advise: use
Advise commonly uses the prepositions ‘on’ or ‘about’. You can ‘advise something’, ‘advise someone to do something’, ‘advise someone against doing something’ or ‘advise that’. 

• I will advise you on advise.
• When working with lions I advise fear.
• My father advised me to choose a different career.
• I advise against making any sudden movements.
• Circus masters advise that people stop disturbing lions.

The answer

‘Advice’ is pronounce with an /s/ sound (/ədˈvaɪs/) but ‘advise’ is pronounced with a /z/ sound (/ədˈvaɪz/)