-ed endings

 
There are three different ways to pronounce the 'ed' ending of regular verbs in the simple past tense: / Id / , / t / or / d /.

The pronunciation depends on the sound at the end of the infinitve of the main verb and whether it is voiced or not.

/Id /
infinitives that end in the sounds
/t/ or /d/

/ d /
infinitives that end in a voiced sound

/ t /
infinitves that end in an unvoiced sound

needed
hated
dated
seated

lived
chilled
enjoyed
tried

shopped
picked
wished
crunched


A voiced sound is one that vibrates in your throat when you say it. For more information and for a technique for finding out whether a sound is voiced or not, download Nuala's description below.

To see a list of voiced and unvoiced sounds, vist our Pronunciation Tips section here.

As well as some consonant sounds, all vowels sounds are voiced.
IDevice Icon Activity

Classify the ed endings that you find in Martin Luther King's biography into the correct group.

/t/                     /d/                     /id/

 

Watch the video if you need help!!!