Simple Past, not so Simple After All!

Simple past is as its name says: Simple. When it comes to grammar people find it easy to add an –ED ending to the verb’s base form, but when it comes to pronouncing those –ED endings, the simple past can easily become hell. Three little tricks will help you to remember how to pronounce –ED endings:

1) /?d/ when the –ED ending is placed directly after a /T/ or a /D/

Ex: Twisted, wanted, embedded

Riddle: After a T or a D pronounce /?d/ like Eddy Murphy

2) /T/ when the –ED ending is placed directly after /k/ /s/ /ch/ /p/ /th/ /f/ /sh/

Ex: kicked, kissed, watched, skipped, wished

Riddle: Kidnap someone’s chip pass their fallen ship

3) /d/ when the –ED ending is placed directly after all the other sounds.

Ex: Called, owned

It may seem harder than it actually is. This simply answers the question "Why do we pronounce those –Ed endings differently?" The riddles can seem foolish, but will help you remember how to pronounce the –ED endings.

Isabelle Mercier

Clé anglaise, Local E1-114