PAST TENSE PRONUNCIATION

‘ED’

Most people who aren’t familiar with modern English

pronunciation will have had difficulty pronouncing the simple

past tense

‘ED’

The Default rule to follow is…

Drop the ‘E’ sound to make the words flow together

For Example.Listened

For Example.Listen’d

For Example.Happened

For Example.Happen’d

For Example.Changed

For Example.Change’d

Note: The ‘e’ in this case affects the spelling of the previous letters and so it remains. It is not pronounced

with the ‘d’

For Example.Change’d

Two Exceptions

Verbs ending in ‘ t ’ or ‘ d ’

For Example

Repeated

For Example

Repeat’d

This pronunciation does not flow.Repeat’d

So the ‘e’ remains.And the suffix is pronounced

separately.Repeated

Second Exception (d).

Decided

Note: The ‘e’ is silent at the end of the verb

Second Exception (d).This also does not flow.

Decid’d

So the ‘e’ remains.And it is pronounced

separately.Decided

Remember, the default position is to eliminate the ‘e’

to make the words flow together.

Remember, the default position is to eliminate the ‘e’

to make the words flow together,

except for verbs ending with ‘t’ or ‘d’

It takes practice!

Try those verbs again

Substituted,, Replaced,, Placed,, Soaked,Dared,, Decided,, Attempted, Learned,

Changed,, Happened,, Continued,Occurred,, Received, Repeated

Substituted, Replace’d, Place’d, Soak’d,

Dare’d, Decided, Attempted, Learn’d,

Change’d, Happen’d, Continue’d,

Occurr’d, Receive’d, Repeated.