English language

The last syllable of the regular past ED tense verb

Here is the rule:

Regular past tense verb endings are pronounced in 
three different ways depending on the final sound in 
the present form.

• The [id] sound: If the final sound in the regular verb is T or D: The past is pronounced as an extra syllable [ID]. -ed: adds a whole syllable to a word.

  Example:

  wanted = want + [id]
  
  
• The [t] sound: If the final sound in the regular verb is a voiceless sound, the past is pronounced as [T], but not as an extra syllable.

  Example:

  watched = watch + [t]
  
  Otherwise,
• The [d] sound: If the final sound in the regular verb is a voiced sound, d - b - r - l - m - n - v or all vowel sounds, the past is pronounced as [D], but not as an extra syllable.

  Example:

  needed = need + [d]

• 80% of verbs with soft t sound or soft d sound.
• 20% where we put the stress (syllable): [id],