English from all angles! This episode covers the word “cover” (pun intended)! Drew discusses the covers on beds, bottles and books and looks at cover songs, cover groups and cover ups. Drew also reminds you of the trick for pronouncing the letter “v” and tells you how you can use the word “would” to explain repetitive actions in the past.

English from all angles! This episode focuses on several expressions related to the words hop, skip and jump. Have you ever skipped school? Or maybe just class? Be honest! Not sure? You’ll be sure after listening to this podcast. Drew picks up where he left off from the previous podcast and explains the expression “to scrape the surface,” along with the word “scrap.” He also discusses various uses of the word “hop” (a high school dance), “bunny hop” (a bicycle manoeuvre), and “hop in,” (what to say to someone when you offer them a car ride).

English from all angles! There are two basic elements that you absolutely need when learning English: concentration and willpower. Period. If you fail to put these two components to use, you won’t get very far. To illustrate this, Drew cites the (common) mistake of “forgetting” to pronounce the “s” for verbs in the present tense for the third person singular. Despite having studied for years, many English language learners still don’t pronounce the “s” for verbs in the present tense for the third person singular. Why continue making the same mistake over and over? Put your concentration and willpower to work so that you can overcome this - right now! Also in this episode, the expressions “out of the blue” and “feeling blue.”

English from all angles! In this episode, Drew explains two interesting and very often used phrasal verbs: to tear up and to tear up. Yes, they’re spelled exactly the same, but they’re pronounced differently and one is a regular verb and the other is an irregular verb. When you get tears in your eyes because you’re experiencing strong emotions, you are tearing up. And when you destroy paper or fabric by pulling it into pieces, you are tearing it up. I did both when I received a very cruel letter from my (now) ex-girlfriend. First I teared up while reading it and then I tore it up.

English from all angles! Baby Boomers, Gen Xers and Millennials have different views on living a balanced life. Listen to this episode to find out why and also to check if you’re properly pronouncing the adjective “live,” the noun “life” and the verb “to live.” Can you easily tell them apart? To tell apart = to differentiate, to distinguish. Also in this episode, Drew reminds listeners how they can easily learn new vocabulary and expressions. Additionally, he highlights the importance of mastering the affirmative, negative and interrogative forms in all verb tenses (especially “to be”).

English from all angles! In this episode, we look at the word “drain” along with two expressions associated with it: “brain drain” and “to go down the drain.” Also, Drew reminds listeners of the benefits of writing down new words. (You already know them, right?) It strengthens your spelling, vocabulary and even your pronunciation. To drain means to empty or remove a liquid. For example, when you empty water from a tank, you are draining the tank. And a “brain drain” is when highly skilled, intelligent workers leave their own country in order to find work and opportunities in another.

English from all angles! Crushed garlic. Chopped onions. Sliced tomatoes. Why do certain verbs that end in a “d” sound like they end in a “t?” In this episode, Drew uses verbs associated with cooking to explain this pronunciation trick. The past tenses and participles of verbs such as crush, chop and slice -which are regular verbs and end in a “d”- are pronounced like a “t” because the infinitives of these verbs end in a sound that’s non-vocalized. In other words, when we only use air –and not our voice- to make the last sound of the infinitive, the endings in the past and participle sound like a “t.” Crushed garlic. Chopped onions. Sliced tomatoes. Drew also teaches the expression “flat as a pancake,” and explains the meaning of “dice.” And he also reminds listeners of the word for a written document that gives instructions on how to cook a particular dish. Do you remember? Listen and find out!

English from all angles! Once again, Drew delivers his practical style of providing pronunciation and spelling tips -along with useful vocabulary and phrasal verbs- in a unique and informational manner. This allows Crosby’s 9 listeners to effectively improve their listening and speaking skills so that they can communicate in English with confidence. In this episode, Drew looks at various uses of the word “form,” both as a verb as well as a noun. As a verb -which is regular- it means to shape, make or produce. We use it particularly with relationships: we form friendships, we form partnerships and we form teams. As a noun, a form is a standardized document. Two frequently used -and commonly mistaken- phrasal verbs associated with forms are “fill out” and “fill in.” Not to worry, however, as Drew gives tips on how to properly use them. He also explains the verb “to coin” and how it’s related to expressions, such as “form follows function,” coined by the architect Louis Sullivan.

English from all angles! The word “grain” is a general term to describe a type of dry seed that’s grown for consumption. Corn, rice, wheat and rye are examples of grains. Grains provide many nutrients and form part of a healthy diet. Grain also refers to the small lines -the stratification of wood fibers- found in a piece of wood. And the expression “to go against the grain” means to act in a way that’s contrary to the way you or other people would typically act. It’s doing something that’s different from what’s considered to be normal. Drew discusses how “going against the grain” is an example of rejecting what’s considered to be the dominant trend, known as the mainstream. He also presents the expression “going with your gut,” -which means to follow your instinct- and he explains why going against the grain and going with your gut are so important when making important decisions in life.

English from all angles! The word “eve” in English can be used figuratively and literally. Its figurative use refers to one event that takes place just before another. For example, “The candidates were still campaigning on the eve of the election.” And the word “eve” is used literally as the day prior to two major holidays: Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. In this case, the word Eve -written with a capital “E”- means the “day before” Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, respectively. Also in this episode, Drew gives a tip on how to properly pronounce the letter “v.” “Eve” is also a woman’s name, as cited in the Bible and referring to Adam’s wife. And it appears in the title of a famous film starring Bette Davis, “All About Eve,” which won 6 Academy Awards in 1951.