Endings

Learning Objectives

Identify endings in words in order to improve pronunciation

Endings-regular past tense verbs, past participles and some adjectives end with -ed. Depending on the word, the -ed sound is pronounced one of three ways

Sound

Words

Adds a syllable

“id”

wanted ⇒ “want/id/”

decided ⇒ “decide/id/”

dedicated ⇒ “dedicate/id/”

Yes

“t”

walked ⇒ “walk/t/”

finished  ⇒ “finish/t/”

No

“d”

cleaned ⇒ “clean/d/
“enjoyed ⇒ “enjoy/d/”
No

 

tips for teaching

Add a syllable with the “-ed” ending when the last sound (not the last letter) of the base form of the verb is a /t/ or /d/

Examples:

“wanted” (two syllables)

“decided” (three syllables)

“needed” (two syllables)

“invited” (three syllables)

 

Unvoiced (or voiceless) sounds take on a /t/ ending.

 

Voiced sounds take on a /d/ ending.