-ed endings: /t/ /d/ /ɪd/

Article excerpt · target grammar marked

The -ed suffix produces three distinct phonemes. When a verb ends in a voiceless consonant, the suffix is pronounced as a clean /t/: jumped, looked. When a verb ends in a voiced consonant or any vowel, the suffix becomes /d/: called, played.

Grammar Reference · -ed endings: /t/ /d/ /ɪd/

-ed → /t/

After voiceless consonants (/p/, /k/, /f/, /s/, /ʃ/). Example: 'looked' = look + /t/. The /t/ is crisp and short.

-ed → /d/

After voiced consonants and vowel sounds. Example: 'called' = call + /d/. The /d/ vibrates slightly.

-ed → /ɪd/

Only after /t/ or /d/ stems. Example: 'wanted' = want + /ɪd/. This adds a full extra syllable.

Common error

Adding /ɪd/ to all past verbs. 'Stopped-id' ✗ — the stem /p/ is voiceless, so 'stopped' = /stɒpt/.

01Exercise 1 — Form · Write the Correct Form

-ed endings: /t/ /d/ /ɪd/

1.She (walk) to the library every morning last year.

2.The committee (decide) to postpone the conference.

3.He (call) three times before anyone answered.

4.The students (practise) the /t/ ending with their teacher.

5.The researcher (publish) her findings in a major journal.

6.The team (need) more time to complete the analysis.

02Exercise 2 — Transform

rewrite with the new structure

1.She jumps over the problem.

2.He opens the door every morning.

3.They start the lesson on time.

4.The linguist explains the rule.

5.The audience laughs at the example.

6.The students need more practice.

7.She plays the audio recording twice.

8.He stops to listen to the podcast.

03Exercise 3 — About You

in your notebook

Personalise: complete five sentences about yourself using the target grammar.

-ed endings: /t/ /d/ /ɪd/01classplan.ai