Grammar · Free lesson
Some advice, not an advice
You are planning a trip and asking a friend about the route. You can count the suggestions, but the English noun advice does not take the same forms as suggestion.
Professor Scott MendozaThe short answer
Advice and information are uncountable in their ordinary meanings. Say some advice and this information, not an advice or informations. To count one recommendation, use a piece of advice.
Count the pieces, not advice or information itself.
Uncountable nouns do not normally take a or an or an added plural s. With information, use singular agreement: this information is. When you need a number, put it with piece: one piece of advice, two pieces of advice.
Ask for help with the journey
Can you give me some advice about the route?
This information is useful.
One piece of advice: leave before rush hour.
A suggestion is countable; advice is not. Similar meanings do not guarantee the same grammar.
Check the noun phrase
Use a suitable quantity word
some advice
Keep singular agreement
This information is useful.
Count an individual recommendation
a piece of advice
Try it now
Choose the natural noun pattern.
Read all answers and explanations
You want recommendations about a journey. Which request uses advice correctly?
Can you give me some advice?Some advice is correct. In this meaning, advice does not take an or a plural s.
Choose the correct sentence about useful facts and details.
This information is useful.Information is uncountable here. Use this information with is, not these informations or information are.
You want to offer exactly one recommendation using the word advice. Which sentence works?
Here is a piece of advice.A piece of advice counts one recommendation. An advice and one advice do not use the ordinary uncountable pattern.
Put it into practice
Repair the message about your trip.
Choose the version that fixes both noun patterns while keeping the request for advice and the statement about useful information.
I need an advice about the route. These informations are useful.
See a model answer
I need some advice about the route. This information is useful.
These changes concern the English nouns, not the number of helpful facts or recommendations in real life. You may have several useful suggestions and still call them some advice.
A little more clarity
Common questions
A few useful details before you move on.
Do I always need some before advice?
No. Advice can appear without some when the sentence allows it. Some is useful in the request on this page, but it is not an article required before every uncountable noun.
I need advice about the route.
Can I count information with pieces too?
Yes. A piece of information refers to one fact or detail; two pieces of information refers to two. Add the plural s to pieces, not information.
We need two pieces of information.
Take it into your day
Some advice. This information is useful. One piece of advice, two pieces of advice.
Your next step · Available on Udemy
Make your noun choices fit the sentence.
This page repairs two common noun patterns. The English Grammar and English Speaking course includes Countable VS Uncountable Nouns through Learn it, Review it, Use it and Practice it, so you can connect noun forms with wider sentence practice.
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