THE PAST SIMPLE (REGULAR VERBS)
Spelling Rules

Add –ed to the base form of most verbs
start
started
finish
finished
watch
watched

Add only –d when the base form ends in an –e.
live
lived
dance
danced

If the verbs ends in a consonant +y, change the y to i and add –ed
spy
spied
fry
fried
dry
dried

If the verb has one syllable and ends in a consonant + vowel +
consonant, double the final consonant and add –ed (Don’t double the
final w or x).
stop
stopped
clap
clapped
rob
robbed

If the verb has two syllables, and the final syllable is stressed, double
the final consonant and add –ed (except travel- travelled)
admit
admitted
occur
occurred
permit
permitted
Pronunciation of final –ed

After unvoiced sounds such as p, k, f, s, , and
the final -ed is
pronounced like t as in the word cat. Note that the -e remains silent.

After voiced sounds such as b, , g, v, z, ,
, m, n, ŋ, l, and r the
final -ed sound is pronounced like d as in good. Note that the -e remains
silent.

The final -ed is also pronounced like the d in good after all vowel sounds.
Note that the -e remains silent.

For verbs ending in d and t the final -ed is pronounced id as in the final
two letters of the word did. Note that here the -e is not silent and this
final -ed sound adds another syllable to the end of the verb.