5.8: Grammar Tip- Regular Past Tense Verb Endings

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In English, all regular verbs end with ‘ed.’ Some verbs change their spelling, but others do not.

There are three different ways to pronounce past tense regular verb endings:

/id/ /t/ /d/

Wanted helped called

Needed looked cleaned

Follow these rules:

If the base verb ends with the sound /t/ or /d/ = /id/

/id/

Paint = painted

If the base verb ends with the sounds /p/, /f/, /x/, /sh/, /ch/ /k/ = /t/

/t/

Watch = watched

/t/

Wash = washed
If the base verb ends with any other sound = /d/

/d/

Play = played

The sounds of /t/ and /d/ are very similar, but the sound of /id/ is very different because it has an extra syllable added to the verb.

A native speaker of English will quickly notice if a verb that should have one syllable is pronounced with two.

For example:

/id/

Paint = 1 syllable painted = 2 syllables

/t/ /id/

Help = 1 syllable helped = 1 syllable not helped = 2 syllables

Turn to the next page to practice listening to the different sounds of past tense verb endings.

Practice Questions

Listening Practice: Past Tense Verb Endings

Past Tense Verb Endings

Part 1 Directions: Listen to the past tense verbs. Check the box that has the sound of the verb ending you hear.

Part 2 Directions: Listen to the person talk about visiting Japan. Write the missing verbs that you hear. Next, practice reading the paragraph with a partner. Use the correct pronunciation for the past tense verbs.

Past tense verb endings_ part 2

Last year, I________________________________________to Japan. It was so beautiful. I_____________________to see some local places, so I__________________________to many people and_______________________________to make friends. I made some Japanese friends and they___________________________some Japanese food for me. We also_______________________around Tokyo and_________________________in a nearby forest. It was a great time. I really_________________________visiting Japan.