ed-sounds

Here are the pronunciation rules for the -ed ending in English:

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There are 3 different sounds when -ed comes at the end of the word.  

Try saying the following 3 words! Can you hear the difference?

1. Wanted
2. Kissed
3. Played

1. Pronounced as /ɪd/

• When the base word ends with the sounds /t/ or /d/, the -ed is pronounced as /ɪd/ (a separate syllable).

• Examples:

  • Wanted → /ed/

  • Needed → /ed/

  • Added → /ed/

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2. Pronounced as /t/

• When the base word ends with a voiceless consonant (except /t/), the -ed is pronounced as /t/.

• Voiceless consonants: /k/, /p/, /f/, /s/, /ʃ/ (sh), /ʧ/ (ch), /θ/ (th).

• Examples:

  • Touched → /te/

  • Jumped → /te/

  • Laughed → /te/

  • Kissed → /te/

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3. Pronounced as /d/

• When the base word ends with a voiced sound (except /d/), the -ed is pronounced as /d/.

• Voiced sounds: All vowels and voiced consonants (/b/, /g/, /v/, /z/, /ʒ/ (as in measure), /dʒ/ (as in judge), /l/, /m/, /n/, /r/).

• Examples:

  • Played → /de/

  • Pulled →  /de/

  • Saved →  /de/

  • Closed →  /de/

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Summary Table:

Base Word Ends With

-ed Pronunciation

Examples

/t/ or /d/

/ɪd/ (Extra syllable)

Wanted, Needed

Voiceless consonants (e.g., /k/, /p/, /f/, /s/, /ʃ/, /ʧ/, /θ/)

/t/

Touched, Jumped, Kissed

Voiced sounds (vowels + voiced consonants)

/d/

Played, Pulled, Saved

Would you like examples or exercises to practice these rules?

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Here are examples and an exercise to practice the pronunciation of -ed endings. Focus on categorizing the words into /ɪd/, /t/, or /d/ based on the pronunciation rules.

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Examples:

1. /ed/ (Extra syllable)

• Wanted

• Needed

• Added

• Started

• Decided

2. /t/ (No extra syllable, voiceless consonants)

• Touched

• Jumped

• Laughed

• Kicked

• Danced

3. /d/ (No extra syllable, voiced sounds)

• Played

• Pulled

• Cleaned

• Called

• Saved

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Exercise: Categorize These Words

Say these words to yourself and sort them into /ɪd/, /t/, or /d/ pronunciation groups:

1. Walked

2. Painted

3. Opened

4. Stopped

5. Waited

6. Breathed

7. Lived

8. Pushed

9. Landed

10. Hoped

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Answers:

/ɪd/

• Painted

• Waited

• Landed

/t/

• Walked

• Stopped

• Pushed

• Hoped

/d/

• Opened

• Breathed

• Lived