Correcting Common English Grammar Mistakes: Advice and Past Tense

Mastering the intricacies of the English language can be quite a challenge. This article offers some clarity on common errors, focusing particularly on the use of advice and the correct forms of verbs in the past tense. Let's delve into the nuances that will help you enhance your writing and communication skills.

1. Is “Advice” an Uncountable Noun?

The word advice is often used as a non-countable noun, meaning we don't use articles like “a” or “an” before it. This can be confusing when one might think to add an “s” at the end when pluralizing or introducing an article. However, it's worth noting that even when pluralizing, an article is not typically used. For example, instead of saying “an advice,” you should say:

Correct: He gave me advice.

Correct: He has given me advice.

Correct: He gave me a piece of advice.

Understanding this helps in forming grammatically correct sentences, even when the idea of plurality isn’t strictly applicable.

2. Subject and Verb Agreement: Is “Advice” a Non-Countable Noun?

The subject-verb agreement can get tricky, especially with non-countable nouns like advice. It’s important to remember that even though advice is treated as a non-countable noun, the verb must agree with the subject. For instance:

Incorrect: She gave me an advice.

Correct: She has given me advice. (If using a singular subject)

Correct: They have given me advice. (If using a plural subject)

In the first example, we see that using “an advice” is incorrect, and the correct form requires attaching the plural indicating piece: “a piece of advice.”

3. The Past Tense of the Verb “Give”

When it comes to the past tense of the verb “give,” the correct form is achieved by using the V2 form, which is “gave.” This form applies to all persons: “He gave,” “She gave,” and “It gave.”

Some might be confused by the conjugation “gave” as it might seem to require an article before it, but this is incorrect. The past tense of “give” in the third person singular is simply “gave,” just like for the first and second persons.

4. Historical Linguistic Context

It’s worth mentioning that the use of “advice” or “advise” in certain historical contexts might have required different forms, but these are archaic and not commonly used today. For example, in older legal or financial contexts, you might have come across something like:

Incorrect (Historical): Send me an advice for the loan repayment.

Incorrect (Historical): Did you get the advices on those trades?

These forms, while grammatically incorrect according to modern English standards, were used in specific industries or eras and are no longer prevalent in contemporary usage.

5. Summary of Correct Usage

To summarize, here are the key points to remember:

Advice is a non-countable noun, so it doesn't take a plural form or an article. Therefore, you should say: He gave me advice.

When using the past tense with a third-person singular subject, use the V2 form: He gave me a piece of advice.

Remember, in the past tense, the verb 'to give' in all its forms for third-person singular is 'gave.'

Understanding these nuances in English grammar can significantly improve your communication and writing. Keep these points in mind, and you'll be well on your way to mastering English language rules.