-ed endings

Level B1 · worked /t/ · played /d/ · wanted /ɪd/

How do you say -ed?

The past ending -ed is always written the same, but it has three sounds. Saying an extra syllable everywhere (“work-ed”) is a very common learner mistake.

The three sounds

/t/ after voiceless sounds: worked, stopped
/d/ after voiced sounds: played, called
/ɪd/ only after t or d: wanted, needed

Remember: Extra syllable only after t or d.

The spelling comes from the past simple lesson.

The rule

The -ed ending has three sounds. Only after t or d is it an extra syllable.

The sounds

worked — After p, k, s, sh, ch, f → a short t.: stopped, washed
played — After vowels and voiced sounds → a soft d.: called, lived
wanted — After t or d → an extra syllable: id.: needed, started

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