You learned that adding -ED makes the past tense in English. Simple, right? Then you hear "walked" pronounced "walkt" and "needed" pronounced "need-id" and realize there's more to it.
The -ED ending has three different pronunciations: /t/, /d/, and /ɪd/. Choosing the wrong one makes you sound unnatural—or worse, changes the meaning entirely.
This guide gives you the complete rules, plenty of practice, and audio tests to master -ED endings once and for all.
The 3 Ways to Pronounce -ED
1. /t/ Sound (Most Common)
The -ED sounds like a T after voiceless consonants.
Voiceless consonants: /p/, /k/, /f/, /s/, /ʃ/ (sh), /tʃ/ (ch), /θ/ (th as in "think")
| Base Verb | Past Tense | Pronunciation | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| walk | walked | /wɔːkt/ | After /k/ |
| stop | stopped | /stɑːpt/ | After /p/ |
| laugh | laughed | /læft/ | After /f/ |
| kiss | kissed | /kɪst/ | After /s/ |
| wash | washed | /wɑːʃt/ | After /ʃ/ |
| watch | watched | /wɑːtʃt/ | After /tʃ/ |
| thank | thanked | /θæŋkt/ | After /θ/ |
Memory trick: If you can whisper the last sound, use /t/.
2. /d/ Sound (Second Most Common)
The -ED sounds like a D after voiced consonants and vowels.
Voiced consonants: /b/, /g/, /v/, /z/, /ʒ/ (zh), /dʒ/ (j), /ð/ (th as in "this"), /m/, /n/, /ŋ/ (ng), /l/, /r/
| Base Verb | Past Tense | Pronunciation | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| play | played | /pleɪd/ | After vowel |
| rob | robbed | /rɑːbd/ | After /b/ |
| hug | hugged | /hʌɡd/ | After /g/ |
| love | loved | /lʌvd/ | After /v/ |
| close | closed | /kloʊzd/ | After /z/ |
| call | called | /kɔːld/ | After /l/ |
| learn | learned | /lɜːrnd/ | After /n/ |
| bathe | bathed | /beɪðd/ | After /ð/ |
Memory trick: If you can hum the last sound, use /d/.
3. /ɪd/ Sound (Extra Syllable!)
The -ED sounds like "id" and adds a syllable after /t/ or /d/.
After /t/ or /d/ only:
| Base Verb | Past Tense | Pronunciation | Syllables |
|---|---|---|---|
| want | wanted | /ˈwɑːntɪd/ | 2 → 3 |
| need | needed | /ˈniːdɪd/ | 1 → 2 |
| wait | waited | /ˈweɪtɪd/ | 1 → 2 |
| end | ended | /ˈɛndɪd/ | 1 → 2 |
| start | started | /ˈstɑːrtɪd/ | 1 → 2 |
| add | added | /ˈædɪd/ | 1 → 2 |
| plant | planted | /ˈplæntɪd/ | 1 → 2 |
| divide | divided | /dɪˈvaɪdɪd/ | 2 → 3 |
Why? It's physically hard to say /t/ or /d/ twice in a row without a vowel between them.
The Complete Rule (Simple Version)
Step 1: Look at the last sound of the base verb (not the spelling!)
Step 2: Apply the rule:
If last sound is /t/ or /d/ → Pronounce /ɪd/ (add syllable)
If last sound is voiceless → Pronounce /t/
If last sound is voiced or a vowel → Pronounce /d/
Common Mistakes (Spanish Speakers)
Mistake #1: Adding /ɪd/ to Everything
Wrong: I walked /ˈwɔːkɪd/ to school Right: I walked /wɔːkt/ to school
Solution: Only use /ɪd/ after /t/ or /d/ sounds!
Mistake #2: Pronouncing the Spelling
Wrong: "watched" as "watch-ehd" Right: "watched" as /wɑːtʃt/ (one syllable)
Solution: Focus on the sound, not the letters.
Mistake #3: Using /d/ After Voiceless Sounds
Wrong: I stopped /stɑːpd/ Right: I stopped /stɑːpt/
Solution: Match voicing: voiceless → /t/, voiced → /d/
Interactive Practice Quiz
Try this interactive quiz to test your understanding:
Practice Test #1: Identify the Sound
What's the correct pronunciation? Choose /t/, /d/, or /ɪd/:
- looked → ?
- played → ?
- wanted → ?
- missed → ?
- called → ?
- ended → ?
- washed → ?
- loved → ?
- started → ?
- laughed → ?
Answers:
- looked → /lʊkt/ (voiceless /k/, use /t/)
- played → /pleɪd/ (vowel, use /d/)
- wanted → /ˈwɑːntɪd/ (ends in /t/, use /ɪd/)
- missed → /mɪst/ (voiceless /s/, use /t/)
- called → /kɔːld/ (voiced /l/, use /d/)
- ended → /ˈɛndɪd/ (ends in /d/, use /ɪd/)
- washed → /wɑːʃt/ (voiceless /ʃ/, use /t/)
- loved → /lʌvd/ (voiced /v/, use /d/)
- started → /ˈstɑːrtɪd/ (ends in /t/, use /ɪd/)
- laughed → /læft/ (voiceless /f/, use /t/)
Practice Test #2: Listen and Choose
Use our ED Endings Practice Tool to test your ear:
- Listen to the audio
- Identify if it's /t/, /d/, or /ɪd/
- Get instant feedback
50+ Practice Sentences
Level 1: /t/ Endings (Voiceless)
- I walked home yesterday.
- She talked to her friend.
- They watched a movie.
- He laughed at the joke.
- We stopped at the store.
- You helped me a lot.
- She cooked dinner tonight.
- I finished my homework.
- They washed the car.
- He kissed his mom goodbye.
Level 2: /d/ Endings (Voiced)
- I played soccer yesterday.
- She called me last night.
- They loved the concert.
- He lived in Spain.
- We opened the door.
- You answered correctly.
- She cleaned her room.
- I learned English online.
- They moved to New York.
- He closed the window.
Level 3: /ɪd/ Endings (After T/D)
- I wanted to go home.
- She needed more time.
- They waited for an hour.
- He started the project.
- We ended the meeting.
- You decided to stay.
- She added sugar to tea.
- I visited my grandparents.
- They tested the software.
- He folded the paper.
Level 4: Mixed Practice (Listen Carefully!)
- Yesterday, I walked to the park and played with my friends.
- She wanted to buy ice cream, so she asked her mom.
- They watched TV and laughed all evening.
- He called me and invited me to dinner.
- We started early and finished on time.
- I cleaned my desk and organized my files.
- She waited outside while I talked to the teacher.
- They loved the movie and decided to watch it again.
- He kissed his wife and hugged his kids.
- We needed help, so we asked a neighbor.
Advanced: Linked Speech
In fast, natural speech, -ED endings often connect to the next word:
- "I walked away" → /aɪ wɔːkt əˈweɪ/
- "She called in" → /ʃi kɔːld ɪn/
- "We waited outside" → /wi ˈweɪtɪd ˈaʊtsaɪd/
The ending changes how words flow together!
Audio Practice Tools
Use our interactive exercises:
- ED Endings Interactive Practice - Audio quiz with instant feedback
- Pronunciation Practice - General word pronunciation
- Minimal Pairs - Distinguish similar sounds
Quick Reference Chart
| Last Sound | Example Base | -ED Pronunciation | Example Past |
|---|---|---|---|
| /p/ | stop | /t/ | stopped /stɑːpt/ |
| /k/ | walk | /t/ | walked /wɔːkt/ |
| /f/ | laugh | /t/ | laughed /læft/ |
| /s/ | kiss | /t/ | kissed /kɪst/ |
| /ʃ/ | wash | /t/ | washed /wɑːʃt/ |
| /tʃ/ | watch | /t/ | watched /wɑːtʃt/ |
| /θ/ | thank | /t/ | thanked /θæŋkt/ |
| /b/ | rob | /d/ | robbed /rɑːbd/ |
| /g/ | hug | /d/ | hugged /hʌɡd/ |
| /v/ | love | /d/ | loved /lʌvd/ |
| /z/ | close | /d/ | closed /kloʊzd/ |
| /m/ | seem | /d/ | seemed /siːmd/ |
| /n/ | learn | /d/ | learned /lɜːrnd/ |
| /l/ | call | /d/ | called /kɔːld/ |
| /r/ | care | /d/ | cared /kɛrd/ |
| Vowel | play | /d/ | played /pleɪd/ |
| /t/ | want | /ɪd/ | wanted /ˈwɑːntɪd/ |
| /d/ | need | /ɪd/ | needed /ˈniːdɪd/ |
Tips for Mastery
- Record yourself saying the 50 practice sentences above
- Compare your recording to native speaker audio
- Focus on linking - how -ED connects to the next word
- Use it in conversation - don't just drill in isolation
- Listen actively - notice -ED endings in movies, podcasts, and songs
Related Resources
- Past Tense Practice Tool - Interactive exercises
- Word Pronunciation Practice - Includes past tense verbs
- ING Endings Guide - Another common ending
- Flap T Guide - For American speakers
FAQ
Why don't we pronounce the E in -ED?
Historical reason! Old English pronounced it, but over centuries, the "e" became silent (except after /t/ and /d/ where we need it for clarity).
Is it "learn-ed" or "learned"?
In modern English: "learned" (1 syllable) /lɜːrnd/. However, "learned" as an adjective (meaning "scholarly") is sometimes pronounced with 2 syllables: "learn-ed" /ˈlɜːrnɪd/.
Do British and American speakers pronounce -ED differently?
The rules are the same! However, British speakers may articulate the sounds more clearly, while Americans use more connected speech.
What about irregular verbs?
Irregular verbs don't follow these rules because they don't use -ED:
- go → went (not "goed")
- eat → ate (not "eated")
- see → saw (not "seed")
How long does it take to master -ED endings?
With focused practice using audio tests and real conversations, most learners achieve 90% accuracy within 2-4 weeks.
Ready to practice? Take our Interactive ED Endings Test with instant audio feedback!