[Mastering the Art of Giving and Receiving Advice in Advanced English]-[Speak Better English with Harry | Episode 566]

Speak Better English with Harry · B1 · 2025-12-17

📋 Summary

Mastering the Art of Giving and Receiving Advice

In this lesson, Harry provides a comprehensive guide on advanced English expressions used for giving and responding to advice. A fundamental linguistic rule highlighted at the outset is that the word "advice" is uncountable; it is never "advices." Instead, one should use phrases like "a piece of advice" or "several pieces of advice."

Essential Expressions for Giving Advice

When offering guidance, the grammatical structure—specifically whether to use an infinitive or the gerund (-ing form)—is crucial:

Hypothetical Scenarios: Using "If I were in your shoes" or "If I were you" is a classic approach. These are followed by the conditional "would" plus the bare infinitive (e.g., "If I were you, I’d go to the doctor").
Suggesting Possibilities: Phrases like "Have you ever thought of/about" or "Have you ever considered" are typically followed by the -ing form (e.g., "Have you ever thought of becoming a vet?"). However, if the expression is followed by a clause, the -ing is dropped (e.g., "Have you ever considered what your father is going to think?").
Direct Suggestions: Using "Why don't you" is followed by a bare verb (e.g., "Why don't you hand in your notice?").
Strong Recommendations: The construction "I think it would be a good idea to" requires the infinitive, whereas "The sooner you do [something], the better" provides a firm, idiomatic way to emphasize urgency.
No Other Options: When someone is backed into a corner, one might say, "You have no choice but to [verb]," which utilizes the bare infinitive.

Responding Positively to Advice

When receiving advice, acknowledging the suggestion with enthusiasm or openness helps maintain rapport:

Acceptance: Phrases like "That’s a thought," "That’s an idea," or "I think I’ll give it a go" signal that you are receptive.
Reflective Consideration: "I hadn't thought of that" or "That actually makes a lot of sense" shows the advisor that their input has shifted your perspective.
Cautious Optimism: If you are unsure but willing to try, "It’s worth a try" or "Nothing ventured, nothing gained" are excellent, idiomatic responses.

Responding Negatively to Advice

Not all advice is welcome or applicable. Harry outlines several ways to decline or deflect suggestions:

Practical Barriers: "That’s easier said than done" is a common way to express that the advice is unrealistic in practice.
Hesitation: Using phrases like "That’s all very well, but I’m not sure that could work" or "I think I’m just going to sit on it for a little while" allows for a polite but firm rejection.
Deflecting Based on Values: Sometimes, individuals reject advice by claiming it is "not in line with my values," implying a moral or personal misalignment with the proposed solution.
Sharp Rejections: In cases of frustration or unwanted interference, one might say, "Keep your advice to yourself." Harry notes that some responses, such as telling someone to "stick it where the sun don't shine," are highly rude and should be avoided in professional or sensitive contexts.

By mastering these linguistic structures and understanding the nuances of these responses, learners can navigate interpersonal challenges with greater confidence and sophistication.

🎯Key Sentences

We're here to help.

if I were in your shoes

you'll be a nervous wreck.

Have you ever thought of becoming a vet.

If I had that problem, I would go and seek professional advice.

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📝Key Phrases

If I were in your shoes

Have you ever considered

I would go and seek professional advice

Have you ever tried talking to

How about knuckling down to

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📖 Transcript

Hi there, this is Harry.

Welcome back to Advanced English Lessons with Harry, where I try to help you to get a better understanding of the English language, to help you with your conversational skills, your business English skills, interview skills, whatever your goals are.

We're here to help.

And for those of you and your friends or family who want one-to-one lessons well, you know what to do.

Just get in touch www.englishlessonviaskype.com and you can apply for a free trial lesson.

And we'd be very happy to hear from you and very happy to help you.

Now, if somebody really really gets annoyed or really gets angry, and perhaps they just don't want to listen to advice, or maybe they're fed up with all the advice you're giving to them, or maybe you're the sort of person that continuously gives them advice even when they don't want it, you might get a very sharp response like well, you know what you can.

Or study on the web version →