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5 Minute English

 

 

Pronouncing -ed at the ends of words

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are 3 ways to pronounce the final -ed in a word.
  1. -ed = /id/
  2. -ed = /d/
  3. -ed = /t/

How do you know which sound goes with which word?  Look at these verbs:

kissed
hoped
learned
played
wanted
sounded

Which sound goes with which word?

 
    Listen

Here are the rules...

If the last sound of the word is unvoiced* (uses no only air to make the sound) except t, the -ed will sound like /t/.

Look at the words kiss and hope.  The last sound of kiss is /s/.  It doesn't use the voice to make the sound.  So the -ed will not use a voice to make a sound either.  The word sounds like /kist/.  The word hope ends with /p/.  It doesn't use the voice so /t/ is at the end.  It sounds like /hopt/.

If the last sound of the word is voiced* (uses some noise to make the sound) except d, the -ed will sound like /d/.

Look at the words learned and played.  The last sound of learn is /n/.  It uses the voice.  The -ed will also have a voice sound like /d/.  So learned sounds like /lernd/.  Play also has a voiced sound at the end.  Played is pronounced /pleid/.

If the last sound to the word is /d/ or /t/, the -ed will sound like /id/.

Look at the words wanted and mended.  They end with a /t/ or /d/.  Wanted sounds like /wantid/ and mended sounds like /mendid/.

Note:  Don't think about the spelling, only think about the final sound.  For example, cough sounds like /kaf/.  /f/ is unvoiced.  Coughed is /kaft/.

*If you are not sure if a sound is voiced or unvoiced, put your hand on your throat when you say the sound.  If it is voiced, you will feel a vibration, or movement, in your throat.  If it is unvoiced, you will feel nothing in your throat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check Your Understanding

Choose the correct final sound for each word.

1.  sounded

     a.  /t/
     b.  /d/ 
     c.  /id/ 

2.  snowed

     a.  /t/
     b.  /d/ 
     c.  /id/ 

3.  cleaned

     a.  /t/
     b.  /d/ 
     c.  /id/ 

4.  fainted

     a.  /t/
     b.  /d/ 
     c.  /id/ 

5.  laughed

     a.  /t/
     b.  /d/ 
     c.  /id/ 

6.  raked

     a.  /t/
     b.  /d/ 
     c.  /id/ 

7.  wounded

     a.  /d/
     b.  /t/ 
     c.  /id/ 

8.  faxed

     a.  /d/
     b.  /t/ 
     c.  /id/ 

9.  cooled

     a.  /d/
     b.  /t/ 
     c.  /id/ 

 
   Listen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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