Rules for the correct pronunciation of the –s ending

• (1) The sounds /s/ /z/ or /ɪz/ (plural nouns and third person singular -s)

• If a word ends with the sounds /s/, /z/, //, /t/, /ʒ/, or /dʒ/ the final s is pronounced /ɪz/.

• If a word ends with any other voiceless consonant sound (/p/, /t/, /k/, /f/, or /θ/), the final -s is pronounced /s/.

• If a word ends with any other voiced consonant sound (/b/, /d/, /g/, /v/, /ð/, /l/, /r/, /m/, /n/, or /ŋ/), or a vowel sound, the final -s is pronounced /z/.

-s ending

Exercise: How are these verbs pronounced?

• reaches hopes

• watches fixes

• remembers kisses

• rises expects

• tries drives

• wishes works

/ɪz/ /s/

/ɪz/ /ɪz/

/z/ /ɪz/

/ɪz/ /s/

/ɪz/ /z/

/ɪz/ /s/

Rules for the correct pronunciation of the –ed ending

Past Simple and Past Participle of regular verbs (-ed)

• If a verb ends with a /t/ or /d/ sound, the final –ed is pronounced /ɪd/.

• If a verb ends with a voiceless consonant sound (/p/, /s/, /k/, /f/, //, /t/, or /θ/), the final -ed is pronounced /t/.

• If a verb ends with a voiced consonant sound (/b/, /g/, /z/, /v/, /ð/, /l/, /r/, /dʒ/, /m/, /n/, or /ŋ/), or a vowel sound, the final -ed is pronounced /d/.

-d ending

Exercise: How are these verbs pronounced?

created decided

kissed disappointed

suffered enjoyed

hated introduced

laughed mixed

refused disappeared

/ɪd/ /ɪd/

/t/ /ɪd/

/d/ /d/

/ɪd/ /t/

/t/ /t/

/d//d/