-ed past tense

Rule Core

The -ed past tense marks regular verbs with a consistent spelling but three pronunciations: [t], [d], and [ɪd]. The sound is determined by the final phoneme, not the letter.

Articulation Guide

• [t] after voiceless consonants. Tongue taps the alveolar ridge; air releases sharply.
• [d] after voiced sounds or vowels. Gentle tongue contact with vocal fold vibration.
• [ɪd] after /t/ or /d/, adding a weak vowel to ease articulation.

Word Analysis

• beloved: /bɪˈlʌvd/ (adjective, common) vs. /bɪˈlʌvɪd/ (emphatic/literary).
• bored: /bɔːrd/, voiced ending → [d].
• concerned: /kənˈsɜːrnd/, voiced → [d].

Pitfalls

Avoid overusing [ɪd]; watch adjective-specific pronunciations.