Pronunciation insight 2

Past simple -ed endings

All past simple forms of regular English verbs end in -ed. This final -ed is pronounced in three different ways:

• /t/ as in worked
• /d/ as in played
• /ɪd/ as in wanted

1Play the recording, listen and choose the words you hear. 

• 1finishfinished

• 2showshowed

• 3chatchatted

• 4hopehoped

• 5respectrespected

• 6talktalked

• 7trytried

• 8introduceintroduced

 

2Play the recording and listen to the past simple forms of the regular verbs. Match each group 1–3 to the pronunciation of the -ed endings. 

• 1calledlivednamedsmiled/t//ɪd//d/

• 2crossedhelpedlaughedtouched/t//ɪd//d/

• 3mendedneededtastedwaited/t//ɪd//d/

3Play the recording, listen and check your answers to exercise 2. Then listen again and repeat. 

4Choose the correct pronunciation to complete the rules. 

• 1We pronounce the -ed ending /t//d//ɪd/ if the verb ends in the sounds /d/ or /t/.

  Example repeat /rɪˈpiːt/

• 2If the verb ends in any other voiceless consonant sound, we pronounce the ending /t//d//ɪd/.

  Example ask /ɑːsk/

• 3If the verb ends in any other voiced consonant sound or a vowel sound, we pronounce the ending /t//d//ɪd/.

  Example rain /reɪn/

5Complete the table with the verbs in the box. Play the recording, listen and check your answers. Then listen again and repeat. 

MOVE
• happened
• included
• invited
• learned
• listened
• looked
• moved
• noticed
• reached
• shouted
• stopped
• visited

/d/	/t/	/ɪd/
arrived	dropped	decided

6Choose the odd one out. Then play the recording, listen and repeat. 

• 1startedcompletedlikedattracted

• 2organizedstayedreceivedescaped

• 3criedpassedwalkedannounced

• 4cleanedtravelledcarriedwatched

• 5connectedrecordedsighedwasted

• 6practisedpushedshoppedqueued