This document provides rules for pronouncing the past simple form of regular verbs in English. It explains that the pronunciation of the "-ed" ending is determined by whether the final sound of the infinitive form is voiceless, voiced, or "-t" or "-d". Specifically, it states that: - If the infinitive ends in a voiceless sound like "t", "s", or "p", the "-ed" ending is pronounced as "/t/". - If the infinitive ends in a voiced sound like a vowel, "b", "g", or "l", the "-ed" ending is pronounced as "/d/". - If the infinitive ends in "-t"

1. Pronunciation
of Past Simple
regular verbs

2. liked
loved
waited

3. lik-t
lov-d
wait-?d

4. voiceless and voiced
consonants

5. Voiced sounds
are made by
vibration of the vocal cords.
When we pronounce
voiceless sounds
there is no vibration.

6. RULE

7. / t /
when an infinitive ends with an
voiceless sound: s, ss, sh, ch,ce
x, p, k, f, th (Spanish “z”)
the Past Simple ending (-ed)
is pronounced / t /

8. / t /
eg.
like / la?k /
> liked / la?kt /

9. / d /
when an infinitive ends with a
voiced sound:
vowels and dipthongs, b, v, g, ge,
z, se, m, n, ng, l, r
the Past Simple ending (-ed)
is pronounced / d /

10. / d /
eg.
love / l?v /
> loved / l?vd /

11. / d /
when an infinitive ends with a
vowel
the Past Simple ending (-ed)
is pronounced / d /

12. / d /
eg.
study / st?di /
> studied / st?did /

13. / ?d /
when an infinitive ends in
/ t / or / d /
the Past Simple ending (-ed)
is pronounced / ?d /

14. / ?d /
eg.
wait / we?t /
> waited / we?t?d /

15. This rule is phonetic,
it’s the last sound
NOT the last letter
that decides the pronunciation

16. last sound of
infinitive
Past Simple
pronunciation
voiceless consonant -t
voiced consonant -d
vowels and dipthongs -d
-t or -d -?d

17. exercise

18. infinitive -t / -d / -?d infinitive -t / -d / -?d
like -t remember
seem -d explode
study -d analyse
wait -?d beg
ask form
try report
need launch
laugh listen
arrive describe
type decide

19. infinitive -t / -d / -?d infinitive -t / -d / -?d
like -t remember -d
seem -d explode -?d
study -d analyse -d
wait -?d beg -d
ask -t form -d
try -d report -?d
need -?d launch -t
laugh -t listen -d
arrive -d describe -d
type -t decide -?d