Past Tense: In English, the most common way of making a verb past tense is to add the ‘ed’
ending. However, the ‘ed’ ending is not pronounced the same in all words. The ‘ed’ can have three
different sounds. It can sound like a ‘d’ (which is the most common), it can sound like a ‘t’ or it can
sound like ‘id.’
Make each of the words in the list past tense and then say it aloud. Write the correct ‘ed’ sound in
the blank next to each word (better use a pencil in case you make a mistake). Now listen to the
pronunciation of the words and check your answers (you may have to listen more than once).
Do you see any patterns? Is there anything that will help you predict which words have which
sounds? Which sound was the most common (was it ‘d’)?
Ask _____
Brush _____
Call _____
Change _____
Check _____
Clench _____
Close _____
Concern _____
Decay _____
Decide _____
Diagnose _____
Direct _____
Enhance _____
Enjoy _____
Exam _____
Fix _____
Floss _____
Lift _____
Look _____
Observe _____
Open _____
Polish _____
Recede _____
Refer _____
Repair _____
Review _____
Rinse _____
Scare _____
Seat _____
Show _____
Skill _____
Smile _____
Soak _____
Sterilize _____
Swish _____
Treat _____
Turn _____
Use _____
Want _____
Wash _____
Work _____