-ed endings in English: spelling and the three sounds
By Michael McGettrickUpdated 11 October 2026
Every regular past form ends in -ed: worked, played, wanted. The spelling is one, but the sound is three: /t/, /d/ or /ɪd/. And a few verbs change their spelling first: try, tried. This page is for both. For the tense itself, see the past simple.
Quick check
Three quick questions on what you have just read. The full practice is further down.
Pick the right one
0/3How many beats? Tap the right number.
worked
wanted
played
The chart: three sounds
Listen to the last sound of the verb, not the last letter. The colour shows the sound of the ending.
| Last sound | -ed says | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| p k f s x sh ch | /t/ | |
| vowel, b g l m n v z | /d/ | |
| t d | /ɪd/ | |
.(one beat: "workt").(one beat: "playd").(two beats: "WANT-id")
Only the /ɪd/ group adds a beat. Worked has one beat; wanted has two.
/t/ or /d/: the hand test
The difference between /t/ and /d/ is your voice. Put your hand on your throat and say "sss", then "zzz". With "zzz" you feel a buzz: that is a voiced sound.
| Verb ends in | Buzz? | -ed says | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| s ( ) | /t/ | | |
| sh ( ) | /t/ | | |
| l ( ) | /d/ | | |
| n ( ) | /d/ | |
Do not worry too much about /t/ and /d/: people understand both. The extra beat matters more. Say worked as "work-id" and it sounds like a new word.
The spelling changes
Most verbs just add -ed. Four groups change a little first.
| Rule | Base | Past |
|---|---|---|
| verbs: -ed | | |
| e: -d | | |
| e: -d | | |
| consonant + y: -ied | | |
| consonant + y: -ied | | |
| vowel + y: -ed | | |
| vowel + y: -ed | | |
| vowel: | | |
| vowel: | |
Each rule with a sentence:
.(like ends in e: just -d).(consonant + y: -ied).(vowel + y: no change).(stop: double the p)
When to double: the stress
Double the last letter only when the verb ends in one vowel + one consonant, and the stress is on that last part.
| Verb | Stress | Past |
|---|---|---|
| ||
| ||
| ||
|
.(the stress is at the end: double).(the stress is at the front: no double)
Never double w, x or y: , .
British English doubles a final l after one vowel even when the stress is earlier: travelled, cancelled. American English usually does not: traveled, canceled. (A rare exception: paralleled.)
Common mistakes
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| plaied | played | Vowel + y: -ed. |
| studyed | studied | Consonant + y: -ied. |
| stoped | stopped | stressed vowel. |
| openned | opened | O-. |
| "-id" | "workt" | k. |
| "-id" | "playd" | vowel. |
The sound mistakes are the ones people hear. Only t and d get the extra beat: wanted, needed, started.
What to do next
- Say these out loud: worked, played, wanted. One beat, one beat, two.
- Do the drills below, then go back to the past simple.