UNIVERSIDAD PEDAGÓGICA NACIONAL

FACULTAD DE HUMANIDADES
DEPARTAMENTO DE LENGUAS

“-ed” endings: /d/, /t/, /Id/

The /d/ pronunciation occurs in verbs ending in all voiced sounds except /d/. In other words, the /d/
pronunciation of “-ed” follows /b/, /g/, /v/, /z/, / /, /z/, /j/, /m/, /n/, /n/, /l/, /r/, and all vowel sounds, no matter how
these sounds are spelled.

Examples: /b/ grabbed / / bathed /n/ learned

/g/ dragged /z/ rouged /n/ longed
/v/ lived /j/ judged /l/ smiled
/z/ raised /m/ named /r/ cared

The /t/ pronunciation occurs in verbs ending in all voiceless sounds except /t/. In other words, the /t/
pronunciation of “-ed” follows /p/, /k/, /f/, /s/, /s/, /c/, and / /, no matter how these sounds are spelled.

Examples: /p/ helped / / frothed

/k/ checked /s/ rushed
/f/ coughed /c/ itched
/s/ boxed

The /Id/ pronunciation occurs in verbs ending in /d/ and /t/, no matter how these sounds are spelled. Unlike
the /t/ and /d/ pronunciations of the “-ed,” which only add a sound, the /Id/ pronunciation adds a new syllable to
verbs ending in /t/ and /d/.

Examples: /d/ needed, divided

/t/ wanted, invited

1. Listen to the present and past tense ending sounds of the following verbs and try to produce them
as accurately as possible.

/d/ /t/ /Id/

1. rob robbed 1. tap tapped 1. seat seated

2. fatigue fatigued 2. tape taped 2. add added
3. owe owed 3. miss missed 3. rate rated
4. surprise surprised 4. lick licked 4. raid raided
5. breathe breathed 5. stuff stuffed 5. pat patted
6. spy spied 6. laugh laughed 6. pad padded
7. employ employed 7. froth frothed 7. coat coated
8. bang banged 8. mash mashed 8. code coded
9. smile smiled 9. bunch bunched 9. knot knotted
10. wedge wedged 10. watch watched 10. intend intended

2. Listen to the following sentences and say them as fast and accurately as you can.

1. The police rushed into the hideaway, grabbed the wanted thief, and dragged him away.

2. The mother smiled as she checked her baby’s room and kissed her bathed baby.

3. The teacher cried as she cashed her check knowing she needed more money.

4. The sick girl wanted some medicine because she had coughed all night and was fatigued.
3. Listen to the following verbs and decide how the past tense ending should be pronounced.

1. waxed /d/ /t/ /Id/

2. played /d/ /t/ /Id/
3. answered /d/ /t/ /Id/
4. handed /d/ /t/ /Id/
5. ceded /d/ /t/ /Id/
6. rushed /d/ /t/ /Id/ rush= hurry up!
7. raced /d/ /t/ /Id/
8. packed /d/ /t/ /Id/
9. filed /d/ /t/ /Id/
10. filled /d/ /t/ /Id/
11. lived /d/ /t/ /Id/
12. lifted /d/ /t/ /Id/
13. covered d/ /t/ /Id/
14. concurred /d/ /t/ /Id/
15. conquered /d/ /t/ /Id/
16. weighed /d/ /t/ /Id/
17. waded /d/ /t/ /Id/
18. waited /d/ /t/ /Id/ bowed= Japanease respectful meeting people
19. bowed /d/ /t/ /Id/
20. boated /d/ /t/ /Id/
21. boded /d/ /t/ /Id/
22. sighed /d/ /t/ /Id/
23. sighted /d/ /t/ /Id/b Saw
24. sided /d/ /t/ /Id/
25. typed /d/ /t/ /Id/
26. tipped /d/ /t/ /Id/
27. boxed /d/ /t/ /Id/
28. fixed /d/ /t/ /Id/
29. leased /d/ /t/ /Id/ to rent for example a car or a house
30. leashed /d/ /t/ /Id/

4. You will hear the sentences below, but with the words that fill in the blanks. Listen carefully to the
endings of the words that fill in the blanks. Then circle the pronunciation of each ending /d/, /t/, or
/Id/.

Stated Stayed
1. You /d/ /t/ /Id/ that you had /d/ /t/ /Id/ at home, didn’t you?

Lied liked
2. John /d/ /t/ /Id/ when he said he /d/ /t/ /Id/ spinach.

Smelled smelted
3. When we came near the foundry, we /d/ /t/ /Id/ the /d/ /t/ /Id/ iron.

Lacked lagged
4. Because we /d/ /t/ /Id/ speed, we /d/ /t/ /Id/ behind.

Prized voiced priced c -> s voiceless

5. Because the items were /d/ /t/ /Id/, they were highly /d/ /t/ /Id/.

banned banded
6. Crowds were /d/ /t/ /Id/, but people /d/ /t/ /Id/ together anyway.

Phased faced
7. After his position was /d/ /t/ /Id/ out, he /d/ /t/ /Id/ the problem of finding another job.

Starred started
8. After she had /d/ /t/ /Id/ in a couple of hit movies, the actress’ popularity /d/ /t/ /Id/ to rise.
 sighed sighted decided
9. I /d/ /t/ /Id/ when I /d/ /t/ /Id/ the bus going by and /d/ /t/ /Id/ to take a taxi.

Plated played
10. The golfer said he had paid thousands of dollars for the gold /d/ /t/ /Id/ clubs he /d/ /t/ /Id/ with.

Taken from Pronunciation Students 1, Centro Colombo-Americano, Bogotá, 1990.