My --------------------- is for you to refuse the -------------- of the wicked

Analyze the question This is a test of commonly confused words: advice (noun) and advise (verb). We need to decide whether each gap needs a noun or a verb.

Explain the concept

• Advice (with a c) is a noun, meaning a recommendation or guidance. It rhymes with "ice".
• Advise (with an s) is a verb, meaning to give a recommendation. It rhymes with "wise".

Step-by-step solution

Sentence: My __ is for you to refuse the __ of the wicked.

1. First gap: "My __ is..." The word follows the possessive "My" and is the subject of the sentence, so it must be a noun. That gives advice.

2. Second gap: "the __ of the wicked" The word follows "the" and is followed by "of", so it must be a noun again. That gives advice (the counsel or guidance of wicked people).

Completed sentence: My advice is for you to refuse the advice of the wicked.

Checking the options:

• A. advise/advice: first gap is wrong, because a verb cannot follow "My" as the subject.
• B. advice/advice: both gaps are nouns, which is correct.
• C. advice/advise: the second gap is wrong, because a verb cannot follow "the".
• D. advise/advise: both gaps are wrong.

Tip: Remember "advice" is a noun, and "advise" is a verb. The noun has c as in ice, and the verb has s as in wise. If a word comes after my, the, a or some, it needs the noun, advice. For example, you say "a piece of advice", but "I advise you".