Morphology

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Pronunciation of {ed} endings

Pronunciation of {s} endings

• Pronunciation of {ed} endings explained

  Remember, these rules are about the SOUNDS of the word, so spelling might not always help.

  1. Rule #1: When a word ends in a voiceless sound, {ed} is pronounced /t/
     

     bake IPA: /beIk/	baked IPA: /beIkt/
     laugh IPA: /læf/	laughed IPA: /læft/
     wish IPA: /wIʃ/	wished IPA: /wIʃt/
     box IPA: /baks/	boxed IPA: /bakst/
     etch IPA: /ɛʧ/	etched IPA: /ɛʧt/

  2. Rule #2: When a word ends in a voiced sound, {ed} is pronounced /d/
     

     enjoy IPA: /InʤɔI/	enjoyed IPA: /InʤɔId/
     bathe IPA: /beIð/	bathed IPA: /beIðd/
     spy IPA: /spaI/	spied IPA: /spaId/
     judge IPA: /ʤʌʤ/	judged IPA: /ʤʌʤd/
     cruise IPA: /kruz/	cruised IPA: /kruzd/

  3. Rule #3: When a word ends in a /t/ or /d/ sound, {ed} is pronounced /Id/
     

     end IPA: /ɛnd/	ended IPA: /ɛndId/
     bat IPA: /bæt/	batted IPA: /bætId/
     flood IPA: /flʌd/	flooded IPA: /flʌdId/
     inflate IPA: /InfleIt/	inflated IPA: /InfleItId/
     raid IPA: /reId/	raided IPA: /reIdId/

• Pronunciation of {s} endings explained

  Remember, {s} endings can be spelled “s”, “es”, “‘s” or “‘”.

  Also, these rules are about the SOUNDS of the word, so spelling might not always help.

  1. Rule #1: When a word ends in a voiceless sound, {s} is pronounced /s/
     

     cat IPA: /kæt/	cats IPA: /kæts/
     myth IPA: /mIθ/	myths IPA: /mIθs/
     book IPA: /bƱk/	books IPA: /bƱks/
     cough IPA: /kɔf/	coughs IPA: /kɔfs/
     trip IPA: /trIp/	trips IPA: /trips/

  2. Rule #2: When a word ends in a voiced sound, {s} is pronounced /z/
     

     Dave IPA: /deIv/	Dave’s IPA: /deIvz/
     bathe IPA: /beIð/	bathes IPA: /beIðz/
     Joy IPA: /ʤɔI/	Joy’s IPA: /ʤɔIz/
     limb IPA: /lIm/	limbs IPA: /limz/
     song IPA: /saŋ/	songs IPA: /saŋz/

  3. Rule #3: When a word ends in an affricate or sibilant, {s} is pronounced /Iz/

     In English, we have two affricates, /ʧ, ʤ/ and four sibilants /s, z, ʃ, ʒ/

     place IPA: /pleIs/	places IPA: /pleIsIz/
     James IPA: /ʤeImz/	James’ IPA: /ʤeImzIz/
     push IPA: /pƱʃ/	pushes IPA: /pƱʃIz/
     beige IPA: /beIʒ/	beiges IPA: /beIʒIz/
     judge IPA: /ʤʌʤ/	judges IPA: /ʤʌʤIz/
     watch IPA: /waʧ/	watches IPA: /waʧIz/

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