How to say 'ed' verb endings correctly

Pronunciation:  /ɪd/ ; /d/ ; /t/
(B1/B2 Intermediate)


Many students have problems pronouncing words correctly if they end in 'ed'. Words such as 'wanted', 'called', and 'helped' all end with 'ed' but they have different ending sounds. To help you remember how to pronounce it properly you can use the guide below.

/ɪd/ after T, D 

wanted

/d/ after L, N, R, G, V, S, W, Y, Z    (VOICED)

called, followed, amazed

/t/ after P, K, SH, CH, GH, TH, SS, C, X    (UNVOICED)

helped

Activity:

use the above guide to help you pronounce the following words:

Loved

Cleaned

Washed

Kissed

Danced

Needed

Damaged

Laughed

Painted

Played

Hoped

Decided

Promised

Used

Cried

Imagined

Watched

Admitted

Lived

Folded

Leap year!
(B1/B2 Intermediate)

Today is 29 February 2016 which happens once every 4 years. It is so special that we call it a leap (/liːp/) year. Leap sounds like sheep (/ʃiːp/).

Leap is mostly used as a verb (meaning jump) and was famously used by Neil Armstrong, who was the first person to walk on the moon. He said:

"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

Google decided to make a doodle (/duːdl/) to celebrate the day. The 29th day of February leaps between the 28th February and the 1st of March.

Activity: 
If you are born 29 February 2016, how old would you be in 2032? 16 years old or 4 years old?
What do you think people are called if they were born on the 29th February? Try to think of the name then search google for the answer.