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