Unit 2: English In A Minute
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Session 54
Have you got a minute to spare? Phil explains 3 ways to pronounce '-ed' in this English In A Minute.
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Activity 1
3 ways to pronounce '-ed'
Have you ever wanted to know different ways to say 'ed'? Find out with Phil in this English In A Minute.
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Phil
Did you know these two letters can be pronounced in three different ways?
They can be /d/, /t/ or /id/. Here's how to find out which.
First, feel your neck. If a sound makes it vibrate like /d/, then it's voiced. If it doesn't like /t/, then it isn't.
Where 'ed' comes after a vowel or a voiced consonant then pronounce it as /d/ - which is a voiced sound.
Played, used.
If you have 'ed' after an unvoiced sound then it sounds like /t/.
An unvoiced sound. Looked, helped.
If you have t or d then 'ed' becomes /id/ -it's just easier to say.
Wanted, needed.
So if 'ed' comes after a voiced sound, then it's voiced.
If it comes after an unvoiced sound, then it's unvoiced and if it comes after /t/ or /d/, then it's /id/.
3 ways to pronounce '-ed'
/d/
'ed' is pronounced /d/ when it comes after a voiced sound.
You can see if a sound is voiced by holding your throat and feeling for vibrations. For example, the letter 'v'.
- used
- paved
/t/
'ed' is pronounced /t/ when it comes after a unvoiced sound.
You can see if a sound is unvoiced by holding your throat and feeling that there are no vibrations. For example, the letter 'k'.
- looked
- fixed
/id/
'ed' is pronounced /id/ when it comes after the letters 'd' or 't' and makes a two syllable word.
- wanted
- needed
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