Adding -ed to Verbs
Learn to add -ed to make past-tense verbs, and hear its three sounds in jumped, played and wanted. A spelling lesson for ages 6-8 with games and a quiz.
Key takeaways
- We add -ed to most verbs to talk about the past
- -ed makes three sounds: /t/ jumped, /d/ played, /id/ wanted
- Double the last letter or drop a final e before adding -ed
Talking about the past
When something already happened, we often add -ed to the verb. This is the past tense. ⏪
- Today I jump 🦘. Yesterday I jumped.
- Today I play ⚽. Yesterday I played.
- Today I want 🎁 a toy. Yesterday I wanted a toy.
The spelling is always -ed, but it can sound three different ways!
The three sounds of -ed
Say these out loud and listen carefully.
- /t/ sound: jumped, hopped, walked 👟
- /d/ sound: played, called, smiled 😀
- /id/ sound (a whole extra beat): wanted, painted, landed 🎨
The trick: after t or d, the -ed adds a beat and sounds like id.
Spelling changes before -ed
Sometimes the word changes a little before we add -ed.
- Drop the final e: bake → baked 🍰, smile → smiled 😀
- Double the last letter after a short vowel: hop → hopped 🐇, clap → clapped 👏
- Change y to i: cry → cried 😢, try → tried
A word list to read
| Now | Past | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| jump 🦘 | jumped | /t/ |
| play ⚽ | played | /d/ |
| want 🎁 | wanted | /id/ |
| bake 🍰 | baked | /t/ |
| hop 🐇 | hopped | /t/ |
How to add -ed
- Is it a short verb ending in one vowel + one consonant? Double the last letter (hop → hopped).
- Does it end in e? Drop the e (bake → baked).
- Does it end in a consonant + y? Change y to i (cry → cried).
- Otherwise, just add -ed (jump → jumped).
Well done!
Now you can read and spell past-tense verbs. Add -ed and listen for its three sounds!
Next, try Doubling Letters Before Adding -ing and Dropping the E Before Suffixes.
Quick quiz
Test yourself and earn XP
What is the past tense of 'jump'?
We add -ed: jump becomes jumped, even though it sounds like 'jumpt'. 🦘
How does the -ed sound in 'wanted'?
After t or d, -ed adds a whole beat: 'want-id'. 🎁
What is the past tense of 'bake'?
Drop the final e first, then add -ed: bake becomes baked. 🍰
Play & learn
Match now to the past +10 XP
Completed ✓ +10 XP
Past-tense cards +5 XP
Completed ✓ +5 XP
FAQ
We add -ed to most verbs to show that something already happened, like jumped, played and wanted.
-ed has three sounds: /t/ as in jumped, /d/ as in played, and /id/ as in wanted, but it is always spelled -ed.
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