Level A2 · Lesson 1
We add -ed to regular verbs to make the past tense. Like the -s/-es ending, this is not always pronounced the same way — there are three different sounds.
| Sound | When we use it | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| /t/ | After quiet sounds: p, k, s, sh, ch, f, x | walked, watched, laughed |
| /d/ | After most other sounds (b, g, l, m, n, r, v, z, and vowels) | played, opened, cleaned |
| /id/ | After t or d sounds — adds an extra syllable | wanted, needed, started |
Remember: this rule is about sound, not spelling. "Watch" ends in the sound /ch/ (quiet), so "watched" = /t/. "Live" ends in the sound /v/ (voiced), so "lived" = /d/.
Click the speaker to listen to each word. Then click the correct sound.
Click the speaker to listen to each word. Then click the word, and click the box with its correct sound.
Drag each word into the correct box: /t/, /d/, or /id/.