The Vibration Trick: How to Finally Pronounce the English Past Tense (-ed) Correctly

Unlock the pronunciation of -ed in English! Learn the vibration secret to sound like a native. A game-changing tip from your English course to master the past tense.

Teacher Joana Feliciano

8/18/20252 min read

The English past tense ending, the famous "-ed," can feel like a minefield, right? Learned, called, loved, played... You see the ending, but when you try to say it, it doesn't always come out right. Many students end up pronouncing the "e" (as in "call-ed"), which is an instant giveaway of a non-native speaker.

But what if I told you there's a simple secret, literally at your fingertips (and in your throat), to never get it wrong again?

There are three rules for "-ed" pronunciation, and today, just like in our video, we'll reveal the first and most common one. Get ready for a trick that will simplify your English forever!


Secret #1: The Vibration Test

It all comes down to one question: Does the final sound of the base verb make your throat vibrate?

To find out, perform this test:

  1. Take your hand and place it gently on your throat.

  2. Think of the verb before the "-ed." For "learned," think "learn."

  3. Pronounce the final sound of the verb out loud. In the case of "learn," the sound is /n/. Say "nnnnn...".

Did you feel a vibration in your vocal cords? That's a voiced sound.

The Golden Rule: If the final sound of the verb vibrates (is voiced), the "-ed" ending will sound like a hard "D". The "e" completely disappears!

  • Learn (+ed) -> the /n/ sound is voiced -> Learned (pronounced: /lɜːrnd/)

  • Call (+ed) -> the /l/ sound is voiced -> Called (pronounced: /kɔːld/)

  • Love (+ed) -> the /v/ sound is voiced -> Loved (pronounced: /lʌvd/)

You go straight from the verb's final sound to the "D" sound. It's that simple!

Exercise: The Vibration Challenge

Let's put your new superpower into practice! For each verb below, do the vibration test on the final sound. If it vibrates, you know the drill: the "-ed" sounds like "D." How would you pronounce the past tense of each?

  1. Play (Final sound: /eɪ/)

  2. Open (Final sound: /n/)

  3. Use (Final sound: /z/)

  4. Follow (Final sound: /oʊ/)

Bonus Challenge: Now, consider these verbs: Watch, Ask, Stop. Do their final sounds (/tʃ/, /k/, /p/) make your throat vibrate? (Hint: they don't!). These verbs follow another rule, which we'll reveal soon! Stay tuned.

One Step at a Time to Fluency

Mastering the "-ed" pronunciation is one of those details that makes all the difference, elevating your English from "good" to "natural." By understanding the logic behind the sounds instead of just memorizing, your learning becomes more intuitive and lasting.

And the best part is you don't have to learn it all at once. Today, you've revealed the first secret. With practice, this will become second nature.

Was this secret a revelation for you? Tell us in the comments which past tense verb you've always struggled with! And don't forget to subscribe to discover the other two "-ed" secrets.

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