rldPronunciation practice
Pronouncing past-tense -ed verbs
Pronouncing the -ed at the end of past tense verbs can be quite confusing for non-native English speakers, as there are actually three different possibilities. By using these three rules, it becomes more understandable.
Rule 1 — the -ed sounds like “t”
If the verb base ends in a voiceless sound, then the -ed ending sounds like a “t”. The “t” sound is blended together with the previous consonant and not pronounced as an extra syllable.
A voiceless sound is like a whisper; your vocal cords don't vibrate. Voiceless consonant sounds are: p, f, k, s, sh, ch, th.
Examples of past tense verbs where the -ed ending sounds like “t”: worked, dropped, finished, divorced, stopped, laughed, coughed, watched.
Rule 2 — the -ed sounds like “d”
If the verb base ends in a voiced sound, then the -ed ending sounds like “d”. The “d” is blended together with the previous consonant and not produced as an extra syllable.
A voiced sound means that your vocal cords vibrate. Voiced consonant sounds are: b, v, g, z, j, th, l, m, n, r, and all vowel sounds.
Examples of past tense verbs where the -ed ending sounds like “d”: moved, returned, stayed, studied, married, widowed, raised, engaged, travelled.
Rule 3 — the -ed sounds like “id”
If the verb base ends in a “t” or a “d” sound already, then the -ed ending sounds like “id” or “ud”. It is pronounced as an extra syllable.
Examples of past tense verbs where the -ed ending sounds like “id”: started, graduated, visited, separated, dated, attended.
Videos explaining pronunciation and other challenges
Some pronunciation issues can only be explained orally. Videos the teacher uses in class will be collected here.
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Speaking practice
Practising speaking on your own can be challenging. There are many interactive language acquisition websites, apps and software packages out there. Personally, I like Duolingo. It won't help you with complex grammar, but it does help you work on your accent, your speed, and basic vocabulary — plus, it's free!