How to pronounce endings

Pronunciation of “ed” endings

Pronouncing -ed at the ends of words

 There are 3 ways to pronounce the final -ed in a word.

  1. -ed = /id/
  2. -ed = /d/
  3. -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?

Here are the rules...

Rule 1

If the last sound of the word is unvoiced* ( also called voicless and 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/.

Voiceless consonants in English include: /f/, /k/, /p/, /s/, /ʃ/ (also written as /sh/, as in the first sound in “shirt”), /tʃ/ (also written as /ch/, as in the first sound in “cheese”), and /θ/ (also written as /th/, as in the first sound in “thanks”)

Rule 2

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/.

Voiced consonants in English include: /b/, /dʒ/ (as in the first sound in “jump”), /ʒ/ (also written as /zh/, as in the final sound in “beige”), /g/, /j/ (also written as /y/, as in the first sound in “yes”), /l/, /m/, /n/, /ŋ/ (the “ing” sound), /ð/ (also written as /th/, as in the first sound in “there”), /r/, /v/, /w/, /z/, and any vowel sound.

Rule 3

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.

Pronunciation Practice

Play the audio file and repeat the words below under each rule.

Rule 1

-ed as /t/

Say /t/ when the -ed ending follows a voiceless sound.

  1. looked
  2. stopped
  3. watched
  4. finished
  5. danced

Rule 2

-ed as /d/

Say /d/ when the -ed ending follows a voiced sound.

  1. listened
  2. preferred
  3. cried
  4. smiled
  5. studied

Rule 3

-ed as /ɪd/

Say /ɪd/ when the -ed ending follows a /t/ or /d/.

  1. wanted
  2. needed
  3. visited
  4. shouted
  5. ended
(Next Lesson) Pronunciation of “se” endings
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