REGULAR PAST FORMS

By Inma Duarte Rodríguez 📔📚📗📘📌

Past Tense Pronunciation for Regular Verbs (-ed)

Rule 1:  If the verb base ends in a voiceless sound (p, f, k, s, sh, ch, th), then the –ed ending sounds like “t”.The “t” will not be pronounced as an extra syllable together with the previous consonant and

Examples: “t”: worked, dropped, finished, divorced, stopped, laughed,coughed, watched

Rule 2:  If the verb base ends in a voiced sound (vowels, b, v, g, z, j, th, l, m, n, r), then the –ed ending sounds like “d”. The “d” will not be pronounced as an extra syllable.

Examples: “d”: moved, returned, stayed, studied, married, widowed, raised, engaged, traveled

Rule 3:  If the verb base ends in a “t” or “d” sound already, then the –ed ending sounds like “id” ”. It is pronounced as an extra syllable.

Examples: “id”: started, graduated, visited, separated, dated, attended

Reference explanation: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1413_gramchallenge26/