When should you use the word ‘the’ in English? Today, in #1 of the Top 15 Fixes series, we discuss the most common article in the English language, ‘the’! Come back to our site Taking IELTS? Get our free IELTS video training now Use if the word ‘the’ can be a confusing. But there are some rules that can help you get it right most of the time. The first requires that you consider whether the focus is on something specific, or something more general. When focused on specific items, use ‘the’. If you’re sitting at a table, talking about the food that is actually in front of you, you might say: * “Do you like the turkey?” * “Yes, the turkey is great!” * “Could you please pass the salt?” When focused on more general terms, you don’t use ‘the’. If you’re discussing food in general, you might say: * “Do you like turkey?” * “Have you tried pumpkin pie?” * “Cranberries are too tart for me.” Geographical terms can also be tricky for ‘the’. In most cases, large, well-known geographic places will have ‘the': the content, the Pacific Ocean, the moon. With specific countries, a country’s formal name might require ‘the,’ while a less formal name might not: the United States, the Russian Federation; America, Russia. Other Entries in the 15 Fixes Series: * Episode 165: Listen or Hear? * Episode 169: Speak, Talk, Tell and Say? * Episode 173: Wish vs. Hope * Episode 177: Talking About Age in English * Episode 181: Future Tense in English * Episode 185: Interested or Interesting? * Episode 189: Talking About the Past * Episode 193: How to Borrow Money * Episode 197: Who Pays for Lunch? * Episode 201: Will vs. Going To * Episode 205: Talking about People * Episode 209: How much versus How many * Episode 213: Make vs. Do * Episode 217: By Yourself vs. On Your Own What have you found difficult about ‘the’? Tell us all about it in the comments section below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do you have a potential for genius? How can you access it? Today Lindsay talks with TEDx Speaker Laura Garrett, creator of the Zone of Genius Assessment, about how you can discover your own zone of genius! Taking IELTS? Get our free IELTS video training course now The Zone of Genius is your innate talents combined with your purpose. Your talent is what you’re naturally good at, and it is unique to you. Your purpose is your main challenge in life – this may not be so unique. In fact, many others may have the same challenge, and there may be an opportunity for you to help them while helping yourself. Laura offers four tips to finding your Zone of Genius: * Identify your talent: Ask your colleagues what they see as your unique approach to the work you do. You may have overlooked something about yourself! * Identify your challenges: Look at your past. What did you struggle with? What was hard? What did you overcome, and how did you help others? * Ask yourself weekly: What are you excited about at work? Are you bored or interested? Why or why not? * Look back on your past week: What impact did you have? Does it satisfy you? What do you think of the Zone of Genius concept? Let us know in the comments section below! Laura Garnett is a Performance Strategist, speaker and the creator of The Zone of Genius Assessment — a powerful process that clarifies your unique talent and purpose, to produce greater impact, results and fulfillment at work. She speaks at events and conferences across the country, including TEDx, and is a regular contributor to Inc.com, The Huffington Post and the Zappos Delivering Happiness blog. Prior to launching her own New York-based consultancy, Laura honed her marketing, branding and mission-refining skills at companies like Capital One, American Express, IAC and Google. Visit Laura’s website, sign up for her newsletter and take an assessment to see if you are living and working in your Zone of Genius! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are you free to follow your goals in life? Or are you afraid? Today, learn how freedom comes with fearlessness! Come back to allearsenglish.com/219 for more! Go here to read the full episode summary There are so many things to be afraid of: loneliness, lack of money, professional failure or meaninglessness. Fears can overwhelm you. But what if you have a vision that’s bigger than fear? To accomplish anything, you have to get out of your head and into your body. Action means letting go of your thoughts. But to do that, you need the freedom to be fearless. Freedom to be fearless means: * Questioning everything * Avoiding “perfectionist paralysis” * Having goals, but knowing that goals are not always the most important thing * Being able to communicate effectively with others when the stakes are high Are you free and fearless? How does it come out in your life? Tell us your story in the comments section below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You need to be able to write in English in a concise way. Today meet AEE blogger and writer Jay Bethke and get his top tips to write like a pro in American English. Go here to subscribe to transcripts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do you say By Yourself or On Your Own in English? Come back to allearsenglish.com/217 for more help! Today, in #2 of our Top 15 Fixes series, we discuss these two phrases and how to use them when you’re doing something alone! Taking IELTS? Get our free IELTS video training course now By yourself and on your own are two phrases that may look different, but their meanings are essentially identical. Both are used to say that you’ve done something alone, rather than with others. Even though their meaning is the same, you want to be careful that you don’t mix up the prepositions between these phrases. The best way to avoid that is to learn each one as a chunk. And the best way to do that is to practice! Other Entries in the 15 Fixes Series: * Episode 165: Listen or Hear? * Episode 169: Speak, Talk, Tell and Say? * Episode 173: Wish vs. Hope * Episode 177: Talking About Age in English * Episode 181: Future Tense in English * Episode 185: Interested or Interesting? * Episode 189: Talking About the Past * Episode 193: How to Borrow Money * Episode 197: Who Pays for Lunch? * Episode 201: Will vs. Going To * Episode 205: Talking about People * Episode 209: How much versus How many * Episode 213: Make vs. Do What do you like to do by yourself? What do you like to do alone? Let us know in the comments section below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are you an adult living at home with your parents? Did you know that American culture discourages this? Today, find out why Americans feel compelled to move out of their family home at age 18 – even if they don’t have enough money to do so! Come back to our site for more info Taking IELTS? Get our free IELTS video training course now Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do you surround yourself with doers? Is it important to spend time with others who appreciate your dreams? Today, we talk about why it’s a good idea to hang out with people who can do and dream, and one action you can take to build a supportive social circle! Come back to our site for more tips Taking IELTS? Get our free IELTS video trainnig course now Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do you dream without fear? Do you link your English studies to your big goals? Today, learn about one All Ears English listener who has an incredible goal and dream for his English – and why it’s making all the difference in his life! Come back to our site for more tips Taking IELTS? Get our free IELTS video training course now Sergin is an All Ears English listener in Turkey. He listens to English conversations 4-8 hours every day! His goal is to become an actor and move to Hollywood. That may sound like an ambitious dream, but it is possible. Dreaming big is the only way to achieve big things. And it’s important to have a goal that you care about. What you’re doing must inspire you and hold your attention. Find what you want to do in life, not just what you should do! Do you have any big dreams or goals connected to learning English? Tell us all about them in the comments section below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Go here to read the full episode summary What’s the difference between do and make in English? Do you make something, or do you do it? Today, in #3 of our Top 15 Fixes, we talk about the difficulty of distinguishing when to use these two verbs! Many English learners have difficulty using do and make, often because they are directly translating from their own language. But native English speakers make it even more difficult. Even though there are some basic rules for using these verbs, native speakers tend to break them. Make usually means to create something, from the ground up. Some examples include: * Making food, a drink, or anything requiring ingredients * Making friends (creating friendships) * Making the bed or table (putting things together) * Making a phone call, or making mistakes Do usually relates more to a responsibility, an action or a job. Some examples include: * Doing dinner, coffee or drinks (something you do together, with others) * Doing homework, or doing the dishes (doing a job or work) * Doing someone a favor * Doing your best Other Entries in the 15 Fixes Series: * Episode 165: Listen or Hear? * Episode 169: Speak, Talk, Tell and Say? * Episode 173: Wish vs. Hope * Episode 177: Talking About Age in English * Episode 181: Future Tense in English * Episode 185: Interested or Interesting? * Episode 189: Talking About the Past * Episode 193: How to Borrow Money * Episode 197: Who Pays for Lunch? * Episode 201: Will vs. Going To * Episode 205: Talking about People * Episode 209: How much versus How many What do you make? What do you do? Let us know in the comments section Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How do you make friends in New York? What do you need to know? Today, we discuss one little part of making it in the Big Apple! Come back to our site for more! Taking IELTS? Get our free IELTS video training course now Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do you know how to celebrate Halloween like an American? Today, we discuss how Americans celebrate this strange holiday, and how learning English will allow you to celebrate Halloween all year! Come back to our site for more Taking IELTS? Get our free IELTS video training now Halloween is a popular traditional American holiday. For many Americans, it is their favorite holiday. Among the many activities Americans engage in, the most important for celebrating Halloween is dressing up in a costume. Adults might dress up for parties, and kids might dress up for trick or treating. This is a chance to be somebody different and to reinvent yourself! Learning a new language can also allow you to take on a new personality. A new culture and language might mix with your unique personality to make you into someone 'different'. Speaking a new language is thus like Halloween all year! Do you celebrate Halloween in your country? What do you do? Tell us all about it in the comments section below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is learning English up to you? Today, we talk with Steve Kaufmann, founder of English LingQ about how your English learning goals are closer than you think! Come back to our site to learn more Taking IELTS? Get our free IELTS video training now Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices