Endings: -ed and final sounds

Why it's difficult

Dropping final consonants makes past tense and plurals disappear, which the examiner hears as a grammar mistake as well as a pronunciation one.

How to make it

1. 1-ed has three sounds: /t/ after voiceless sounds (asked, helped), /d/ after voiced sounds (played), /ɪd/ after t or d (wanted).
2. 2Finish the word: the tongue must touch behind your top teeth for the final t or d.
3. 3Link the ending to the next word: "asked_a question" sounds natural and makes the ending easy to hear.

Check yourself: Record yourself saying "I walked to work." Listen: can you hear the t before "to"?