One of the most common questions learners ask is, “What is the plural of advice?” With so many rules and exceptions in English grammar, it’s important to understand the concept of plural and how it applies to different words. In this article, we’ll explore the plural of ‘advice’ and provide some helpful tips to ensure you’re using it correctly.
Before we dive into the specifics of the plural of ‘advice’, it’s important to understand the concept of plural in English grammar. Essentially, plural refers to more than one of something. In most cases, plural nouns are formed by adding an ‘s’ or ‘es’ to the end of the singular noun. However, there are many exceptions to this rule, and ‘advice’ is one of them.
The word ‘advice’ is often used in the singular form, but what happens when we need to refer to more than one piece of advice? Is it ‘advices’ or ‘advice’? In the next section, we’ll explore the word ‘advice’ in more detail and look at some common mistakes people make when using its plural form.
Plural of Advice
Definition and Plural of Advice
Advice is a noun that refers to an opinion or recommendation given to someone about what they should do. It is often used to describe suggestions given in a professional or personal context, such as financial advice, legal advice, or medical advice.
Unlike many other nouns, advice is a mass noun, which means it does not have a plural form. Therefore, it is incorrect to use the word “advices” to refer to multiple pieces of advice. Instead, the word advice is used both in the singular and plural form.
In some contexts, however, the word advice can be used countably. For example, one can say “I received three pieces of advice from the financial advisor.” In this case, advice is being used as a countable noun, and the plural form of advice is simply “advices.”
It is worth noting that the use of “advices” as a plural form of advice is considered archaic and is rarely used in modern English. Instead, it is more common to use the word “pieces” or “bits” to refer to multiple pieces of advice.
When to Use Advice and Pieces of Advice
The word “advice” is a noncount noun, which means it does not have a plural form. Therefore, it is incorrect to use “advices” as the plural form of “advice.” However, it is acceptable to use the phrase “pieces of advice” to refer to multiple suggestions or recommendations.
When providing guidance or recommendations, it is important to consider the context and the audience. In general, “advice” is used in a more formal or professional setting, while “pieces of advice” can be used in a more casual or personal setting.
- For example, a financial advisor may provide advice to a client on how to invest their money. In this context, it would be appropriate to use the singular form “advice.” However, a friend may offer several pieces of advice on how to decorate a new apartment. In this context, using the phrase “pieces of advice” would be more natural.
- When using “advice” in a sentence, it is important to note that it is a noun and should be used as such. For example, “She gave him a lot of advice, but he didn’t listen.” In this sentence, “advice” is used to refer to the suggestions given by the woman to the man.
- On the other hand, “advise” is a verb and should be used as such in a sentence. For example, “He advised her to take the job offer.” In this sentence, “advise” is used to indicate the act of giving an opinion or suggestion.
- When referring to multiple pieces of advice in a sentence, it is appropriate to use the phrase “pieces of advice.” For example, “She gave him three pieces of advice on how to improve his writing.” In this sentence, “pieces of advice” is used to refer to the three suggestions given by the woman to the man.
Plural Noun Rules for Regular Nouns
To form the plural of most regular nouns, simply add -s to the end of the word. For example, “book” becomes “books” and “desk” becomes “desks”. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. Here are some additional rules to follow when forming plural nouns:
- If the singular noun ends in a sibilant sound (s, x, z, ch, sh), add -es to the end of the word to form the plural. For example, “box” becomes “boxes” and “church” becomes “churches”.
- If the singular noun ends in a consonant + y, change the y to an i and add -es to form the plural. For example, “city” becomes “cities” and “baby” becomes “babies”.
- If the singular noun ends in a vowel + y, simply add -s to form the plural. For example, “day” becomes “days” and “toy” becomes “toys”.
- If the singular noun ends in a consonant + o, add -es to form the plural. For example, “potato” becomes “potatoes” and “echo” becomes “echoes”. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, such as “photo” which becomes “photos” and “piano” which becomes “pianos”.
It’s important to note that irregular nouns do not follow these plural noun rules and must be memorized or looked up in the dictionary.
Plural Noun Rules for Irregular Nouns
When it comes to pluralizing nouns, most English words follow a simple rule of adding an “s” or “es” to the end of the word. However, some words do not follow this rule and are known as irregular plural nouns. Here are the rules for pluralizing irregular nouns.
List of Common Irregular Plural Nouns
The following table lists some of the most common irregular plural nouns in the English language:
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| Child | Children |
| Foot | Feet |
| Goose | Geese |
| Man | Men |
| Tooth | Teeth |
| Woman | Women |
Nouns That End in ‘Us’
When a noun ends in “us,” the plural form is usually formed by changing the “us” to “i.” For example:
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| Cactus | Cacti |
| Focus | Foci |
| Radius | Radii |
Nouns That End in ‘Is’
Nouns that end in “is” have different plural forms depending on their origin. For example:
| Singular | Plural |
| Analysis | Analyses |
| Crisis | Crises |
| Thesis | Theses |
Nouns That End in ‘On’
Nouns that end in “on” usually have their plural form by changing the “on” to “a.” For example:
| Singular | Plural |
| Criterion | Criteria |
| Phenomenon | Phenomena |
Plurals That Are the Same as Singulars
Some nouns have the same form for both the singular and plural. For example:
| Singular/Plural | |
|---|---|
| Deer | |
| Fish | |
| Sheep | |
| Trout |
Words That Look Like Plural Nouns but Are Singular Nouns
Some nouns that look like they are plural nouns are actually singular nouns. For example:
- News
- Politics
- Mathematics
Knowing the rules for pluralizing irregular nouns can help you avoid making common mistakes in your writing.
Plural Nouns Vs. Possessive Nouns
Plural nouns and possessive nouns are two different concepts in English grammar. Plural nouns refer to more than one person, place, thing, or idea, while possessive nouns indicate ownership or possession of something. Here is a comparison of plural nouns and possessive nouns:
Plural Nouns
Plural nouns are formed by adding -s or -es to the end of a singular noun. For example, “book” becomes “books,” and “box” becomes “boxes.” Some nouns have irregular plural forms, such as “child” becoming “children” and “goose” becoming “geese.”
Plural nouns can be used in various ways, such as the subject of a sentence, the direct object of a verb, or the object of a preposition. For example, “The cats are sleeping,” “I bought three books,” and “She put the dishes in the sink.”
Possessive Nouns
Possessive nouns indicate ownership or possession of something. They are formed by adding an apostrophe and an -s to the end of a singular noun or just an apostrophe to the end of a plural noun that already ends in -s. For example, “the dog’s bone” and “the teachers’ lounge.”
Possessive nouns can be used in various ways, such as showing ownership, indicating a relationship between two things, or describing a characteristic of something. For example, “John’s car,” “the book’s cover,” and “the company’s profits.”
Plural Nouns vs. Possessive Nouns
It is important to distinguish between plural nouns and possessive nouns because they have different uses in a sentence. Plural nouns refer to more than one thing, while possessive nouns indicate ownership or possession of something.
For example, “The dogs are barking” uses a plural noun to indicate that there is more than one dog making noise. On the other hand, “The dog’s bone is buried in the yard” uses a possessive noun to indicate that the bone belongs to a specific dog.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the plural form of advice?
The word “advice” is an uncountable noun in English, which means it does not have a plural form. Therefore, it is incorrect to use “advices” as the plural form of advice.
How do you say many pieces of advice?
To refer to many pieces of advice, you can use expressions such as “a lot of advice,” “a great deal of advice,” or “plenty of advice.”
Is ‘advices’ a correct plural form of advice?
No, “advices” is not a correct plural form of advice. The word “advice” is an uncountable noun and does not have a plural form.
Can you use ‘two advice’ instead of ‘two pieces of advice’?
No, it is not grammatically correct to use “two advice” instead of “two pieces of advice.” Since “advice” is an uncountable noun, it cannot be used with a number or an article.
Is advice countable or uncountable?
“Advice” is an uncountable noun, which means it cannot be counted or quantified. It is used to refer to a general idea or concept rather than a specific item.
What does the term ‘advice’ mean?
The term “advice” refers to guidance, recommendations, or suggestions given to someone to help them make a decision or solve a problem. It is often given by someone with more experience or knowledge in a particular area.
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