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.
