Words Ending With -ED

Many learners of English have difficulty pronouncing words that end with -ED but there is a simple rule to follow:

Words that end with either -TED or -DED have an extra syllable which is pronounced like "-id". For example: "Test" has one syllable, "Tested" has 2 syllables and is pronounced "Test-id". In the same way "Extend" has 2 syllables "Ex" and "tend", however "Extended" has 3 syllables and is pronounced "Ex-tend-id". This rule is apt for all words that end with either -TED or -DED, all other endings have no extra syllable and the end sounds like a hard "d" sound. So for example: "Stop" has one syllable and "stopped" also has one syllable and this word is pronounced "Stopd". Similarly "Dislike" has two syllables and "Disliked" also has two syllables and is pronounced "Dislikd". The extra syllable "-id" sound is only added to words ending with -TED or -DED, simple!

Now say these words with the extra -id sound at the end: Commanded, hated, handed, stated, relegated, pretended, regulated.
And now these words with the hard -d sound at the end: Guessed, believed, commenced, relaxed, attacked, travelled, banned.

Now read the short story and look at the words which end with -ED and work out which ending they have, then prepare to read the story to your teacher:

James Bond hid behind the curtain, he realised that he would soon be discovered so he tested the safety catch on his pistol, lifted the torch from the floor and decided on his escape plan. Sirco entered the room and switched on the light, he raised his gun, aimed at the curtain and fired. He ran to the curtain and pulled it open but there was no-one there. The window had been opened and Bond had escaped. He followed him out of the window and looked all around for signs of the British agent but could see none. He guessed that Bond would have headed towards the wood store and started to run in that direction. When he got there he kicked the door in and rolled into the middle of the store but he was all alone....