It’s easy to spell verbs ending in –ed correctly — there are just 4 rules!

+ ed
1 For most verbs, just add –ed to the base form of the verb.
brush – brushed work – worked

+d
2 If the base form of the verb ends in a single -e, just add –d.
live – lived smile – smiled

yi + ed
3 If the base form of the verb ends with a consonant + y, change the y to i and add -ed.
study --studied try – tried

x2 + ed
If the last 3 letters of the base form of the verb are consonant-vowel-consonant and the
stress is on the final (or only) syllable, double the final consonant and add –ed.
plan – planned stop – stopped
4
admit – admitted prefer - preferred
(Compare when the stress is not on the final syllable: listen –
listened)

Do not double the final consonants -x, -w, or –y.

fix – fixed snow – snowed stay –

Practice: Put the words in the appropriate columns.

walk love wash add
like
answer commit study dress
visit
shop worry close fit

+ ed +d yi
+ ed x2 + ed
walked
Answer Key:

+ ed +d y  i + ed x2 + ed
walked loved tried shopped
answered used worried committed
washed closed studied fitted
asked liked allowed
added visited
dressed
cooked
explained