Pronunciation of ED Endings [ /t/ /d/ /ed/]

Today we are going to learn how to pronounce ED endings with a helpful guide, examples, and a video.

Regular verbs are easy to remember because you just have to add “ed” or “d” at the end of the verb

For example:

Want	Wanted
Rent	Rented
Change	Changed
Decide	Decided

However, the pronunciation of regular verbs in the past create pronunciation problems for people who are learning English and whose native language doesn’t have those sound combinations.

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Pronunciation of Ed Endings Rules

To learn the pronunciation of the ED Endings, you have to learn the rules and then imitate what you hear.

There are 3 different ways of pronouncing -ed at the end of verbs in the past or adjectives.

These are /ɪd/, /d/ or /t/, and it all depends on the last sound of the infinitive form of the verb

Let’s check each of them

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Pronunciation of ED Endings: Rule #1:

If the verb base ends in a voiceless sound, then the –ed ending sounds like “t”. Voiceless consonants are: p, f, k, s, sh, ch, th

work	worked
Drop	dropped
finish	finished
stop	stopped
watch	watched
wash	washed
talk	talked
kiss	kissed
park	parked
help	helped

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Pronunciation of ED Endings: Rule #2

 If the verb base ends in a voiced sound, then the –ed ending sounds like “d”. Voiceless consonants are: b, v, g, z, j, th, l, m, n, r

Move	Moved
Stay	Stayed
Study	Studied
Return	Returned
Marry	Married
Hope	Hoped
Laugh	Laughed

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Pronunciation of ED Endings: Rule #3

If the verb base ends in a “t” or “d” sound already, then the –ed ending sounds like “id” 

Start	Started
Want	Wanted
Visit	Visited
Attend	Attended
Date	Dated
Decide	Decided
End	Ended
Need	Needed
Hate	Hated
Date	Dated
Seat	Seated

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ED Ending Pronunciation Video:

This is a good video to help you learn the three different ED Endings Pronunciations

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Pronunciation of ED Endings: Exceptions

The following -ed words used as adjectives are pronounced with /ɪd/:

• aged
• dogged
• ragged
• blessed
• learned
• wicked
• crooked
• naked
• wretched

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Pronunciation of ED Endings: Speaking Task

Have a look at the word cloud and make a sentence with the past form of some of the verbs included in the word cloud

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Simple Past Ending -ed – Test

These are some test that you can take online to make sure that you have fully understood how to pronounce regular verbs in the past

• Englisch-hilfen.de- Simple Past Endings
• EnglishMaven.org – Pronunciation of Ed Endings

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Pronunciation of ED Endings Resources

These are some videos that explain well how to pronounce ed ending at the end of verbs and adjectives

1. Cork English Teacher – Pronunciation of ED Endings
2. WoodWard English – How to Pronounce ED Endings
3. Learn English – EngVid – How to Say ED Endings in English
4. Mmm English – Three Simple Pronunciation Tip – Past Tense English Verbs
5. EnglishClass101.com – How to Pronounce ED Endings

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