Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[klafterreith]

Once I made the same mistake, so I give you /will give a piece of advice.


Are both `give you�and `will give you�acceptable?


Thank you
Klafterreith

[redset]

We would usually say 'I will give you', meaning you're going to give them the advice sometime in the future (which could be a second later!). You can use the present simple form like this, but it's quite formal or poetic and people wouldn't usually use it. If you do use it, you're talking about something you're doing right now so you'd have to give the advice immediately:

"Once I made the same mistake, so I give you a piece of advice: don't put your hand in fire, it's hot!"

It would probably be more common to say "I give you this piece of advice". People also use this form in formal presentations and ceremonies, like marriage ("I give this ring", "I give my hand") and introducing people ("ladies and gentlemen, I give you... Dave Sperling!").