Pronouncing –ed at the end of words

There are THREE WAYS TO PRONOUNCE THEFINAL -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/.

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.

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.” • [Ʃ] “SH”: “We brushed it off.”• [TƩ] “CH”: “I reached around for it.”

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.” • [DƷ] “They bridged 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.”

EXAMPLES /Id/:

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

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 nakedragged wicked wretched

PRACTISING:1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1413_gramchalleng

e26/page2.shtml

2. http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1413_gramchallenge26/page3.shtml

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