In English, regular verbs in the past tense end with -ed (e.g., worked, wanted, played), as do some adjectives (e.g., tired, excited, relaxed). However, the -ed ending is pronounced in three different ways depending on the sound that comes before it: /ɪd/, /t/, or /d/.

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😕 This can sometimes confuse learners, but don’t worry—by understanding a few simple rules, you’ll be able to pronounce them confidently! 😄

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Voiced vs. Voiceless Sounds

Before we dive into the rules for -ed pronunciation, it’s helpful to understand the difference between voiced and voiceless sounds.

🔊 Voiced Sounds: These are sounds that make your vocal cords vibrate. To feel this, put your hand on your throat and say the letter Z—you’ll notice a vibration. This is because Z is a voiced sound.

🔇 Voiceless Sounds: These sounds do not make your vocal cords vibrate. Say the letter S and you’ll notice no vibration in your throat—it’s only air passing through your mouth. This is a voiceless sound.

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How to Pronounce -ed Endings

There are three possible ways to pronounce the -ed ending in English:

1. /d/ Sound

• If the verb ends in a voiced sound (like /b/, /g/, /v/, or any vowel sound), the -ed is pronounced as /d/.

Examples:

• played → /pleɪd/
• lived → /lɪvd/
• opened → /ˈəʊ.pənd/

Here, the -ed sound blends smoothly into the word without adding a syllable.

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2. /t/ Sound

• If the verb ends in a voiceless sound (like /p/, /k/, /f/, /s/), the -ed is pronounced /t/.

Examples:

• worked → /wɜːkt/
• laughed → /læft/
• danced → /dɑːnst/

Notice that there is no extra syllable—just a /t/ sound at the end.

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3. /ɪd/ Sound

• If the base verb ends in /t/ or /d/, the -ed is pronounced as a separate syllable, /ɪd/ (it sounds like “id,” as in kid).

Examples:

• wanted → /ˈwɒn.tɪd/
• needed → /ˈniː.dɪd/
• invited → /ɪnˈvaɪ.tɪd/

Here, the -ed forms an extra syllable at the end of the word.

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Quick Summary

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Practice Makes Progress!

🗣️ Now, let’s practice! Try saying these sentences aloud and focus on how the -ed endings sound:

1. She danced all night. (/t/)
2. He opened the door. (/d/)
3. They waited for the bus. (/ɪd/)

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Board Game

🎲 Students take turns rolling the dice and moving their piece on the board.

🛑 When a student lands on a square, they say the past form of the verb

🗣️ Example: hated /hei tid/ -> id

👂 The other players listen and decide if the answer is right or wrong.

✅ If the answer is right, the student stays on that square.

❌ If the answer is wrong, they go back to their previous square.

🏆 The first student to reach the finish square wins the game!

By learning and applying these rules, you’ll start to feel more confident in your pronunciation. Over time, you’ll know exactly when to use /t/, /d/, or /ɪd/! Keep practicing!