Common Pronunciation Mistakes

Common Pronunciation Mistakes with Past Tense Verbs (and How to Fix Them!)

Learning to speak English clearly takes time and practice — and one of the biggest challenges for many learners is pronouncing past tense verbs correctly.

Let’s take a closer look at a common mistake and how you can improve your pronunciation with a simple rule.

🎵 English Has Rhythm and Music

When we speak English, it sounds like music. Some words are stressed (strong) and others are softer. Verbs in the past tense follow this pattern too — especially when we add -ed at the end.

But here’s where many learners make a mistake…

❌ Adding an Extra Syllable

Many beginners pronounce all past tense verbs with an extra syllable — like saying:

• Walked as walk-ED

• Asked as ask-ED

But this isn’t always correct! In fact, most regular past tense verbs are not pronounced with that extra “-ed” sound.

✅ The 3 Sounds of -ED

Here’s the rule:

1. /t/ sound – when the verb ends in a voiceless sound (like k, s, sh, ch, f, or p)

   • Asked → /askt/

   • Laughed → /laft/

2. /d/ sound – when the verb ends in a voiced sound (like l, m, n, v, g, or vowels)

   • Cleaned → /kleend/

   • Played → /pleyd/

3. /ɪd/ sound – when the verb ends in t or d

   • Wanted → /wɑn-tid/

   • Needed → /nee-did/

This last one is the only time you add a full extra syllable.

🧠 Why This Matters

Speaking with the correct -ed sound helps you:

• Sound more like a native speaker

• Speak more clearly and fluently

• Feel confident in conversations

🎯 Quick Tips to Practice

• Listen carefully to native speakers. Try YouTube videos or podcasts.

• Repeat what you hear. Focus on how the -ed ending sounds.

• Practice in front of a mirror or with a teacher.

Want more help? Join our next class at catchingenglish.com where we teach you how English really sounds — not just how it’s written.