The Three Sounds of -ed

We add -ed to show something already happened. The surprise is that -ed can make three sounds. After words ending in t or d, it says /ed/ as its own syllable: 'planted', 'needed'.

After some sounds, like /p/, /k/, /s/, /sh/, and /ch/, it says /t/: 'jumped', 'looked', 'wished'. Most other times it says /d/: 'played', 'filled', 'rained'. You don't need to memorize the list.

Read the base word, add the ending, and pick the sound that sounds right. 'Jump-ed' sounds odd, but 'jumpt' sounds right.

• 1-ed shows something already happened.
• 2-ed can say /ed/, /t/, or /d/.
• 3After t or d, it says /ed/.