PRONUNCIATION OF

REGULAR VERBS
IN PAST
RULE 1. The final sound of the verb in its
base form is /t/ or /d/ and the
past pronunciation is /ed/ or /Id/

GROUP A
If the verb ends in a / t / or / d / sound,
pronounce the past tense / ed / or / Id /.

accepted landed
arrested needed
collected painted
contacted printed
counted presented
decided protected
defended rented
demanded repeated
ended respected
expected started
hunted visited
included waited
invited wanted

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 If the final sound of the verb is a

RULE 2. vowel OR a voiced consonant other

than / d /, pronounce the past
tense with the sound / d /.

GROUP B
VOICED AND VOICELESS CONSONANTS

Voiceless consonants:
/ p, t, k, f, θ, s, ʃ, h, tʃ /

Voiced consonants:
/ b, d, g, v, ð, z, ʒ, dʒ, m, n, ŋ, l, r, y /

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VOICED AND VOICELESS CONSONANTS

6
If the final sound of the verb is a vowel OR a
voiced consonant other than / d /, pronounce
the past tense with the sound / d /
agreed happened
answered killed
appeared listened
arrived loved
believed opened
called played
cleaned rained
closed saved
cried studied
died tried
explained traveled
filled turned
followed used
worried
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 If the final sound of the verb in its

RULE 3. base form is a voiceless consonant

other than / t /, pronounce the past
tense as the consonant / t /.

GROUP C
 If the final sound of the verb in its base form is
a voiceless consonant other than / t /,
pronounce the past tense as the consonant / t /.

asked laughed
cooked looked
danced missed
dressed pushed
dropped stopped
finished shopped
guessed talked
helped walked
jumped washed
kissed watched
worked