Goal: Decide how to pronounce the regular past tense ending -ed — as /t/, /d/, or /ɪd/. Key idea: it depends on the last sound of the base verb, not the spelling.
Rule 1 After voiceless sounds (/p/ /f/ /k/ /s/ /ʃ/ /tʃ/ /θ/), say /t/ (watched /wɒtʃt/).
Rule 2 After voiced sounds (/b/ /v/ /g/ /z/ /ʒ/ /dʒ/ /m/ /n/ /ŋ/ /l/ /r/ and vowels), say /d (cleaned /kliːnd/).
Rule 3 After /t/ or /d/, add a syllable: /ɪd (wanted /ˈwɒn.tɪd/, needed /ˈniː.dɪd/).
1) Same-ending sound columns → choose the -ed sound
Each column contains verbs that end with the same final sound. Select how to pronounce -ed: t, d, or id. (There are 13 columns below.)
Ends with /n/(voiced → /d/)
cleand
opend
turnd
joind
pland
listend
leand
raind
Ends with /tʃ/ (ch)(voiceless → /t/)
watcht
teacht
toucht
coacht
marcht
reacht
searcht
matcht
Ends with /p/(voiceless → /t/)
stopt
helpt
shopt
dropt
clapt
skipt
mopt
popt
Ends with /k/(voiceless → /t/)
talkt
walkt
cookt
lookt
parkt
workt
baket
askt
Ends with /s/ or /ks/(voiceless → /t/)
kisst
misst
passt
guesst
presst
dresst
dancet
fixt
Ends with /ʃ/ (sh)(voiceless → /t/)
washt
pusht
finisht
brusht
polisht
wisht
crasht
publisht
Ends with /f/(voiceless → /t/)
laught
cought
surft
snifft
pufft
scofft
blufft
stufft
Ends with /b/(voiced → /d/)
grabd
robd
scrubd
rubd
stabd
jabd
clubd
probed
Ends with /g/(voiced → /d/)
begd
hugd
jogd
tagd
plugd
dragd
wagd
bagd
Ends with /m/(voiced → /d/)
dreamd
seemd
claimd
slamd
blamed
trimd
zoomd
filmd
Ends with /l/(voiced → /d/)
calld
saild
emaild
smiled
diald
rolld
pulld
yelld
Ends with a vowel sound(vowel → /d/)
playd
stayd
enjoyd
agreed
followd
allowd
cryd
tryd
Ends with /r/(voiced → /d/)
orderd
answerd
repaird
appeard
preferd
offerd
coverd
stird
Quick stats0/0 correct
Tip: The answer is the same within each column because the final sound is shared.
2) BIG focus: verbs ending with /t/ or /d/ → say /ɪd (extra syllable)
Choose id for the sound and type the correct past form. All these base verbs end with /t/ or /d/, so -ed adds a syllable.
wantid · wanted
needid · needed
addid · added
endid · ended
gradeid · graded
decideid · decided
waitid · waited
paintid · painted
visitid · visited
inviteid · invited
startid · started
attendid · attended
0/24 correct
3) Mixed practice → choose t, d, or id
washt
lived
kisst
saved
workt
calld
laught
playd
begd
fixt
loved
helpt
cleand
watcht
arrived
0/15 correct
4) Syllable count in the past form
Choose 1 syllable or 2 syllables. Remember: after /t/ or /d/, -ed adds a syllable.
wanted2
needed2
watched1
cleaned1
ended2
laughed1
0/6 correct
5) True / False (about the rules)
The spelling decides the sound of -ed.False
After a vowel sound, -ed is pronounced /d/.True
After /t/ or /d/, -ed is /t/.False
After voiceless sounds like /k/ or /s/, -ed is /t/.True
“Started” and “ended” have two syllables.True
0/5 correct
6) Put the steps in order (algorithm for -ed)
Choose 1–4 to show the correct order.
If the last sound is /t/ or /d/, say /ɪd.2
Look at the last sound of the base verb (not spelling).1
If the last sound is voiced (not /d/), say /d.3
If the last sound is voiceless, say /t.4
0/4 correct
7) Mini‑story cloze: type the past form and choose the -ed sound
Type the past form and select t/d/id for each verb in parentheses.
Yesterday, Ana (visit) her aunt. They (watch) a movie and (laugh) a lot. Ana (need) help with homework, so her aunt (add) examples and Ana (save) the file. Later, they (wash) the dishes and (end) the day with tea.
visitedid
watchedt
laughedt
neededid
addedid
savedd
washedt
endedid
0/16 correct
8) For example → your turn
Write 3 verbs that take /ɪd (end with /t/ or /d/), and 3 that take /t, and 3 that take /d.
9) Discussion / speaking prompts
Tell a partner 5 things you did yesterday using regular verbs. Focus on the -ed sounds.
Make a short story (5–7 sentences) with at least one /ɪd, one /t, and one /d verb.