Past Tense Stand Up

Purpose: To review the three different pronunciations for the -ed ending on regular verbs in the past tense. The ending can sound like /d/ as in rained and phoned, /t/ as in stopped or looked or /Id/ as in started or needed.

Preparation time:  15 minutes to make verb cards

Materials:  Cards with regular verbs in the past tense; one card with /d/ on it and an example of a verb with that sound, one card with /t/ written on it and an example of a verb with that sound and a card with /Id/ and an example of a verb with that sound; tape

Preparation: Think of 10 regular verbs that your students know. Think of verbs that are useful to your learners. Write the verbs on index cards or on pieces of paper. Make the cards with the three endings on them and tape each one to a wall in your classroom.

Procedure:

1. Remind learners of the -ed ending on regular verbs in the past tense and that the ending can have three different sounds.
2. Direct their attention to the cards with the different endings and examples on them. Model and drill learners quickly on the correct pronunciation.
3. Explain that you will show them more verbs and they will need to decide what the correct pronunciation is. When they think they know the correct pronunciation, they should walk over and stand by the appropriate card. So, if the verb you show is phoned, they would stand by the card that has the /d/ ending. If they are unsure, they may stand somewhere in the middle of the room. Explain that you will not say the verb at first, but they are welcome to say it as many times as they like to try to determine the correct pronunciation.
4. Show them the first card. When all learners have moved to the card that shows what they think the correct ending is, model the correct pronunciation of the verb.
5. Any learners who need to move to the correct cards may do so at this time.
6. Model the correct form and have learners repeat a few times for practice. When you feel they are ready, show them the next verb card. Continue until you have gone through all the cards.
7. As a wrap-up to the activity, distribute the cards and some tape and have learners tape the verbs next to the appropriate ending.

Notes:

Here are some notes about the different pronunciations of –ed.

It is pronounced /d/ when the verb ends in a vowel or in these sounds: /th/ as in breathe, /b/, /v/, /z/, /zh/, /g/, /m/, /n/, /ng/, /l/.

It is pronounced /t/ when the verb ends in the following sounds: /p/, /f/, /s/, /sh/, /ch/, /k/, /th/ as in math.

It is pronounced /Id/ when the verb ends in /d/ or /t/.