Syllables 102: Past Tense +ed

Extra Syllables: Past Tense Verbs

To make the simple past tense, we add +ed to the end of the verb.

Usually, this does NOT add an extra syllable.

However, with some verbs, the +ed DOES add an extra syllable.

Listen: Rent --> Rented
Plant --> Planted

Do these verbs have 1 syllable, or 2?

fainted​	landed	worked	caused	planned
laughed​	added​	folded​	treated​	counted​
started​	​watched	closed​	asked​	cooked​

Audio Response

Record yourself reading these words:

fainted

landed

worked

caused

planned

Open Audio Recorder

Audio Response

Record yourself reading these words:

laughed

added

folded

treated

counted

Open Audio Recorder

Audio Response

Record yourself reading these words:

started

watched

closed

asked

cooked

Open Audio Recorder

Listen again:

fainted​	landed	worked	caused	planned
laughed​	added​	folded​	treated​	counted​
started​	​watched	closed​	asked​	cooked​

wash
walk
cause
plan
close

Don't add a syllable with +ed

land
fold
add
raid
load

Add a syllable with +ed

Q: How are these verbs different?

plant
start
treat
wait
heat

work
live
save
laugh
call

Open Ended

How are the two lists different?

(hint: What type of letters do all the verbs in the 1st list have?)

wash
walk
cause
plan
close

Don't add a syllable with +ed

land
fold
add
raid
load

Add a syllable with +ed

Q: How are these verbs different?

plant
start
treat
wait
heat

work
live
save
laugh
call

A: Verbs that end in /t/ or /d/ get a new syllable with +ed

When a verb ends in the /t/ or /d/ sounds, like "need" or "want", it gets another syllable after adding +ed in the past tense. So, "needed" is 2 syllables.

How many syllables is "wanted"? What about "represented"?