Simple Past Tense Pronunciation

Although all simple past tense verbs end with an –ed, they can have three different pronunciations. Each of these pronunciations is decided by the sound (not the letter) that comes before the -ed. /Id/ is the sound that the "ed" makes in the words bed, credit, and medicine. /d/ is the common sound for the letter “d”. We hear it in the words door, dog, and doctor. /t/ is the common sound of the letter “t”. We hear it in the words talk, take, and not.

/Id/ /d/ /t/

/t/ tasted /b/ rubbed /f/ laughed

/d/ padded /g/ bugged /k/ kicked

/dg/ judged /p/ stopped

/l/ pulled /s/ passed

/m/ hummed /sh/ pushed

/n/ fanned /ch/ punched

/r/ tired

/v/ lived

/z/ buzzed

/j/ singed