Past tense –ed endings

Which sound is it?

 Making Consonant Sounds
• Remember the key to making most
consonant sounds:
• Two points in your mouth must make
contact to produce the sound.
• Exception: /h/
 Let’s Review
Three main points of consonant
production are:
1. Place

2. Manner

3. Voicing
 Recap for me
• What is voicing?

• What are the two types of consonant

sounds?

• Give an example of each of these

two sounds.
What sound do you hear for
the following –ed endings?

• The agent talked quietly to himself.

• I’m glad you called today.

• They needed to change our schedules.

 Three sounds
• The past tense –ed ending has three
possible sounds in North American
English: /t/, /d/, /Id/.

• How can you tell which sound to say?

 Tell me the Guidelines
• Work with a partner.
• Check the words and the sound of
the –ed endings in the following
sample sentences.
• Create the guidelines to help ensure
the correct pronunciation.
 Sample Sentences
• The agent talked with the customer.
• They walked to the Supervisor’s desk.
• The trainees practiced all day.

• The customer called to ask a question.

• He was amazed by the credit terms.

• We decided to skip the break.

• They wanted to review before the test.
 Basic Guidelines for
pronunciation of –ed endings
1. The pronunciation of the –ed ending
depends on whether it is preceded
by a voiced or voiceless sound.

2. When a verb ends in a voiceless

consonant, except /t/, the –ed
ending is pronounced /t/.
Example: The agent addressed the customer by
name. /t/
3. When a verb ends in a voiced
consonant, except /d/, the –ed
ending is pronounced /d/.
Example: The agent listened carefully.

4. Since all vowels are voiced sounds,

the –ed ending is pronounced with
the voiced ending /d/.
Example: She showed it to her supervisor.
5. When a verb ends in /t/ or /d/, the
–ed ending is pronounced as a
separate syllable /Id/.
Example: We were included in the list of A
players.
 Now let’s practice…

• Work with a partner.

• Review the information in your
manual.
• Work together to do the practice
activity, and then double-check your
answers.
• Check your work with the group.
 Now let’s do a self test

• Use p. 86 in your manual.

• Cover the words on the left with a
piece of paper.
• Listen carefully to each word you
hear, concentrating on the sound of
the –ed ending.
• Which –ed ending sound do you
hear?
• Place a check in the correct column.
Let’s check and see how you did
WORD /t/ /d/ Separate Syllable /Id/

replaced √

adjusted √

listened √

focused √

waited √

looked √

phoned √

proved √

greeted √

wanted √
What questions do you have
about –ed endings?