Pronunciation of ED

There are three different ways to pronounce the 'ed' ending of regular verbs in the simple past tense:

/ Id /, / t / or / d /. 

The pronunciation depends on the sound at the end of the infinitive of the main verb and whether it is voiced or voiceless sound.

Before we learn the difference ways to pronounce ED, we must first know what voiced and voiceless consonants are.

A voiced consonant means that it uses the vocal cords and they produce a vibration or humming sound in the throat when they are said.

A voiceless sound is when there is no vibration in your throat and the sound comes from the mouth area.

An easy way to determine whether a consonant is voiced or not is to place a finger on your throat. As you pronounce a letter, feel the vibration of your vocal cords. If you feel a vibration the consonant is a voiced one.

1. The /id/ sound

If the last letter of the word is spelled with D or T, the ED is pronounced as a separate syllable with an /id/ sound.

wanted	/ ˈwɒntɪd /
needed	/ niːdɪd /
started	/ stɑːtɪd /
visited	/ ˈvɪzɪtɪd/
dated	/ ˈdeɪtɪd /
waited	/ weɪtɪd /
attended	/ əˈtendɪd /
separated	/ ˈsepəreɪtɪd /
graduated	/ ˈɡrædʒueɪtɪd /
painted	/ peɪntɪd /

2. The /t/ sound

If the last consonant of the word is voiceless, then the ED is pronounced as a T.

helped	/ helpt /
looked	/ lʊkt /
watched	/ wɒtʃt /
washed	/ wɒʃt/
laughed	/ lɑːft/
kissed	/ kɪst /
danced	/ dɑːnst /
worked	/ wɜːkt /
divorced	/ dɪˈvɔːst /
finished	/ ˈfɪnɪʃt /

3. The /d/ sound

If the last letter of the words ends in a voiced consonant, then the ED is pronounced like a D.

called	/ kɔːld /
cleaned	/ kliːnd /
offered	/ ˈɒfə(r)d /
loved	/ lʌvd /
used	/ juːzd /
raised	/ reɪzd /
engaged	/ ɪnˈɡeɪdʒd /
amazed	/ əˈmeɪzd /
traveled	/ ˈtrævld /
returned	/ rɪˈtɜːnd /

Words that end in a vowel sound use the / d / pronunciation for ED.

followed	/ ˈfɒləʊd /
enjoyed	/ ɪnˈdʒɔɪd /
played	/ pleɪd/
tried	/ traɪd /
continued	/ kənˈtɪnjuːd /