How to Really Pronounce Regular Verbs in the Past

What's up, RealLife English?

Welcome to another episode of RealLife TV. I'm Chad and today I'm going to teach you

all about how to really pronounce regular verbs in the past.

Is this RealLife?

Ok, so, many English learners form all around the world often make a very big mistake when

pronouncing regular verbs in the past.

Have you ever said "I traveled around the world?" Maybe you said "I watched a movie

last night?" Well, unfortunately, you are wrong if you said this because in English

we don't always add an extra syllable to the verb when we conjugate it.

So, the only time you are going to add an extra syllable to a verb when you conjugate

it is when the verb ends in a "d" or a "t" sound. For example, the verb "to want." "I

wanted." So, the "ed" is going to take on the "t," the last consonant as well. "I wanted

to go traveling." "I wanted to go." In American English they tend to cut the "t" sound, so

they'd say "I wanted," "I wanted to go."

Ok, so that's when the verb ends in a "t" sound or a "d" sound. For example, the verb

"to decide." Technically, the verb "decide" ends with an "e," but the last sound of the

verb is a "d" sound. "I decided," "I decided to go traveling."

Ok, so, remember - you only add an extra syllable when the verbs end with a "t" or a "d" sound.

Ok, this is a really difficult one. When a regular verb ends in a "ch" sound, an "sh"

sound, a "k," an "s," a "p" or an "f" the "ed" actually takes on a "t" sound. It's a

very subtle "t" sound.

For example, if I was to say "I watch-ed a movie" I would actually say "I watched," "tched,"

"tched." That's the actual "ed" sound in the verb "to watch." "I watched a movie last night."

Like I said, it's also with an "sh" sound. So, if I wash my clothes, I would say "I washed

my clothes yesterday," "I washed my clothes."

Ok? Same thing, the "k" sound. The verb "to like:" "I really liked," "kt," "I liked the

movie." So, you're not even going to hear the "ed" sound, it's a very quick "t" sound.

So, you're going to have to try to practice this a few times, and especially with the

"sh" and the "ch." "I washed," "I watched."

Ok, just to give you an example of the "s," the "p," and the "f" sounds, for example,

the verb "to pass." "I passed the test," "passed." Again, the "t" sound.

"P." "Stopped," "he stopped at the traffic light." "Stopped," "ped," "ped."

And, lastly, the "f" sound. For example, the verb "to laugh." Obviously, "laugh" ends with

a "gh," but, like I said, the sound is an "f" sound, "laugh." "I laughed a lot when

I saw the comedian." "I laughed," "ghed."

And all the rest of the regular verbs when you conjugate them, if they don't end in any

of these sounds that I've just explained, they're just going to take on a very regular,

simple, "d" sound.

For example, "play." "I played the guitar yesterday."

So, it's just that "-ed," "-ed" sound. "I played the guitar."

Another very important thing that can help you guys a lot with pronunciation, when pronouncing

these verbs that end in a "t" sound, like "I washed," "I watched," if those verbs are

followed by another word that starts with a vowel, the "t" actually becomes a "d" sound.

If I'm talking about a movie, I can say "he watched it." "He watched it" would say "he

watched it." So, this is very common in American English.

Another example: a verb that ends in "s," for example, "pass." "He passed on the information,"

in American English we'd actually say "he passed on the information." "He passed on

the information." The "t" becomes a "d."

And, the last example is, let's say, the verb "laugh." "He laughed at the joke." An American

would pronounce this "he laughed at the joke."

So, when we finish with a "t" and it's the "t" sound, and it starts again the next word

with a vowel, "laughed at" becomes "laughed at."

Ok guys, that concludes today's episode of RealLife TV. I hope you guys enjoyed it!

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