Lesson Plan

Pronunciation Project
Ed-endings – 10-minute lesson

Lesson Objectives:

 Students will correctly pronounce ed-endings in regular verbs

Necessary materials:

 Copies of “Verb groups sheet” (attached to this lesson plan, print back to back)
 Copies of Handout with ed-ending rules
 Blackboard or whiteboard

Task and time Step-by-step Purpose

Review of regular Distribute the handout with ed-endings rules. Elicit Activate previous
verbs from students some regular verbs. Ask them to tell knowledge and quickly
~30s-2min them what the past of that verb is. Ask them what the prepare students for
similarity among all regular verbs is. (they all end in new information.
‘ed’.) Tell them that Although they all end in the ‘ed’,
there are different ways to pronounce them.
Review the base Ask students the base form of certain verbs. Make the Students learn when
form, questions using the verbs in the infinitive. Ex.: What is /id/ pronunciation
Teach verbs that the base form of the verb ‘to start’? (start). Write on occurs and have a
end in t or d on the board some verbs that end with ‘t’ and ‘d’. Ex.: controlled practice of
their base form Start, graduate, visit, separate. Underline the ‘t’ and /id/ pronunciation.
are pronounced ‘d’ on each verb, say that the ‘e’ at the end of the
as /id/ word is mute. Explain that verbs like that are
~3min pronounced like /id/ when they go to the past. Make
sure to emphasize the added syllable and tell them
that there is an extra syllable there. Say the word and
let the students repeat them: StartID, graduatID,
visitID…
Teach ed-endings Ask students to put their hand on their throat. Ask Students learn when /t/
with /t/ and /d/ them to imitate you as you sound a long ‘s’ sound, and /d/ pronunciation
~3min right after call their attention as you change the sound occurs and have a
to a long ‘z’. Ask them if they feel the difference with controlled practice of
the vibration vs. no vibration of their vocal chords. Do /t/ and /d/
the same with sounds like /p/ followed by /b/. Tell pronunciation.
them that Sounds with no vibration are called
voiceless sounds while sounds with vibration are
called voiced sounds. Show that there is a list on their
handout of which sounds are considered voiced and
which are considered unvoiced.
Tell them that verbs in which the base form end in
voiceless sound, the ed-ending will sound like a
blended /t/. Mention that no extra syllable is added.
Sound the examples and have students repeat:
workeT, droppeT, finisheT…
Compare them with verbs in which the base form end
in voiced sound, the ed-ending will sound like a
Lesson Plan
Pronunciation Project
blended /d/. Mention that no extra syllable is added.
Sound the examples and have students repeat:
moveD, returneD, stayeD…
Practice Hand out the copies of “Verb groups sheet”. Assign Students practice all the
~4 min them into pairs or small groups, have them work in the knowledge in ed-
first exercise. Let them use their rules handout for this endings pronunciation.
practice. For each exercise there is 12 regular verbs to
be categorized into /t/, /d/, or /id/.
Production game Tell students to put away their rules handout. Make a Students complete the
~3 min for each small competition and see which team is able to exercise without help
exercise correctly categorize each verb in the group. from anything but their
group mates.
Lesson Plan
Pronunciation Project

Past Tense Pronunciation for Regular Verbs (-ed)

Rule /id/: If the verb base Rule /t/: If the verb base Rule /d/: If the verb base
ends in a “t” or “d” sound ends in a voiceless sound, ends in a voiced sound,
already, then the –ed then the –ed ending then the –ed ending
ending sounds like “id”. sounds like “t”. sounds like “d”.

It is pronounced as an The “t” is blended The “d” is blended

extra syllable. together with the previous together with the previous
consonant. consonant.

A voiceless sound is like A voiced sound means

a whisper. Your vocal that your vocal chords
chords don’t vibrate. vibrate.

Voiceless consonant Voiced consonant

sounds: sounds:

p, f, k, s, sh, ch, th b, v, g, z, j, th, l, m, n, r

All vowel sounds are

voiced.
Examples of past tense Examples of past tense Examples of past tense
verbs where the –ed verbs where the –ed verbs where the –ed
ending sounds like “ed” ending sounds like “t” ending sounds like “d”

started worked moved

graduated dropped returned
visited finished stayed
separated divorced studied
dated stopped widowed
attended laughed raised
coughed engaged
watched traveled
Lesson Plan
Pronunciation Project

Verb groups sheet

 Group 1

Needed Lived Shopped Chilled Picked Seated

Hated Dated Enjoyed Wished Crunched Tried

/t/ /d/ /id/

Lesson Plan
Pronunciation Project

Verb groups sheet

 Group 2
Kissed Pulled Wanted Decided Played Snapped
Poured Laughed Visited Kicked Hugged Wasted

/t/ /d/ /id/

 Group 3
Robbed Tapped Added Ended Loved Baked
Begged Waited Danced Started Brushed Opened

/t/ /d/ /id/