Click the picture to go to e4tg.com

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Past tense syllables

When does the past tense "ed" become a separate syllable?


1. If the verb ends in voiceless (無声音) [ch] [f],[k], [p], [s], or [sh], then –ed is not articulated as a separate syllable, as [t].

botched           [ba:cht]
stuffed              [stəft]
picked             [pIkt]
skipped            [skIpt]
confessed        [can  fEst]
wished             [wIsht]



2. If the verb ends in [t] or [d], then –ed is articulated as a separate syllable, as [əd] or [Id].

competed        [cəm  pi:  tId]
waited             [we:  tId]
busted             [bəs  tId]

The last syllable is usually reduced and difficult to hear.



If the verb ends in any other sound, then –ed is articulated as [d].  It is not pronounced as a separate syllable. These are voiced.

cleaned            [kli:nd]
bobbed            [babd]
stormed           [stormd]
gagged             [gægd]
cleansed          [klEnzd]
 

Please use English well!