There are three ways to pronounce the final -ed ending in words: /t/, /d/, or /id/. The pronunciation depends on whether the last sound of the word is voiceless (/t/) or voiced (/d/). Words ending in /t/ or /d/ take an /id/ pronunciation. There are some exceptions that always take an /id/ sound even if the last sound is voiceless or voiced. The document provides rules, examples, and practice exercises for pronouncing -ed endings correctly in English.

1. Pronouncing –ed at the
end of words

2. There are THREE WAYS TO PRONOUNCE THE
FINAL -ED in a word:
1. /t/
2. /d/
3. /id/
1.If the last sound of the word is voiceless
(vocal cords don’t vibrate) the final -ed will
sound like /t/. Exception: when the last
sound is /t/.
2. If the last sound of the word is voiced (vocal
cords vibrate) the -ed will sound like /d/.
Exception: when the last sound is /d/.
3. If the last sound of the word is /d/ or /t/, the
-ed will sound like /id/.

3. SOME TIPS:
• Don't think about the spelling but about the
final sound (sound, not letters!!).
For example, cough sounds like /kaf/. /f/ is
the final sound, and it is voiceless.
Coughed is pronouced /kaft/.
• If you are not sure if a sound is voiced or
unvoiced, put your hand on your throat
when you say it. If it is voiced, you will feel a
vibration, or movement in your throat. If it is
voiceless, you will feel nothing in your throat.

4. EXAMPLES /t/:
• [P] “He popped a balloon.”
• [K] “They talked a lot.”
• [Θ] “TH”: “She frothed a cup of milk.”
• [F] “I laughed at the movie.”
• [S] “She kissed a frog.”
• [ ] “SH”: “We bruƩ shed it off.”
• [T ] “CH”: “I reaƩ ched around for it.”

5. EXAMPLES /d/:
• [B] “It bobbed up and down.”
• [G] “He begged her to stay.”
• [Ð] “She breathed loudly.”
• [V] “They loved it.”
• [Z] “We raised her expectations.”
• [D ] “They briƷ dged the gap.”
• [M] “I claimed it was mine.”
• [N] “They banned new members.”
• [Ŋ] “She banged into the chair.”
• [R] “He cleared it up.”
• [L] “I rolled up the paper.”

6. EXAMPLES /Id/:
• [t] : “Sam visited his mother yesterday”
• [D] : “The game ended early in the morning”

7. EXCEPTIONS:
• There are several exceptions to the rules
explained before. Each of the following words do
not follow the “ed” ending rules. For these
words, the “ed” ending is pronounced like /id/:
aged blessed
crooked dogged
learned naked
ragged wicked
wretched

8. PRACTISING:
1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1413_gramchallenge26/pag
2. http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1413_gramchallenge26/pag
3. http://www.englishmaven.org/HP6/Pronouncing%20ED%20Endings%20Exercise%201.htm
4. http://www.englishmaven.org/HP6/Pronouncing%20ED%20Endings%20Exercise%202.htm
5. http://www.englishmaven.org/HP6/Pronouncing%20ED%20Endings%20Exercise
%203.htm
6. http://www.englishmaven.org/HP6/Pronouncing%20ED%20Endings%20Exercise
%204.htm
7. http://www.englishmaven.org/HP6/Pronouncing%20ED%20Endings%20Exercise
%205.htm
8. http://www.englishmaven.org/HP6/Pronouncing%20ED%20Endings%20Exercise
%20Final%20Exam.htm