English grammar
-ed spelling and sound — and paid
Talk about your first day with past verbs.
From the scene I arrived, I looked, I paid
In short
Add -d after e and -ed to most verbs; pay becomes paid. Say -ed as a syllable only after t or d.
Your turn
Which one goes with look for?
Options: I arrived (not "arriveed") · I started (say "start-id") · I looked for (say "lookt")
Show answer
look for → I looked for (say "lookt")
How it works
Verbs ending in -e just add -d (arrive → arrived); most others add -ed (look → looked, start → started).
Good to know
Don't say the -ed as an extra syllable: looked = "lookt", touched = "toucht"; only after t or d is it "-id" (started).
Good to know
Pay is irregular: paid, not "payed".
arrive I arrived (not "arriveed")
Nuria
Ugh, yes. I arrived late.
Uf, sí. Llegué tarde.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Ugh, yes. (blank) late.
Options: I looked for · I started · I arrived
Show answer
Nuria
Ugh, yes. I arrived late.
Uf, sí. Llegué tarde.
look for I looked for (say "lookt")
Nuria
I looked for the office for thirty minutes.
Busqué la oficina media hora.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) the office for thirty minutes.
Options: I started · I looked for · I arrived
Show answer
Nuria
I looked for the office for thirty minutes.
Busqué la oficina media hora.
start I started (say "start-id")
Nuria
And when I got there, I started with the photocopies.
Y cuando llegué, empecé con las fotocopias.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
And when I got there, (blank) with the photocopies.
Options: I looked for · I started · I arrived
Show answer
Nuria
And when I got there, I started with the photocopies.
Y cuando llegué, empecé con las fotocopias.
touch I touched (say "toucht")
Your turn
What goes with I touched (say "toucht")?
Options: arrive · look for · touch
Show answer
I touched (say "toucht") → touch
pay I paid (not "payed")
Nuria
A coffee. And I paid... for the boss's coffee too!
Un café. Y pagué yo... ¡el café de la jefa también!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
A coffee. And (blank)... for the boss's coffee too!
Options: I paid · I arrived · I looked for
Show answer
Nuria
A coffee. And I paid... for the boss's coffee too!
Un café. Y pagué yo... ¡el café de la jefa también!
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| arrive | I arrived (not "arriveed") |
|---|---|
| look for | I looked for (say "lookt") |
| start | I started (say "start-id") |
| touch | I touched (say "toucht") |
| pay | I paid (not "payed") |
More lines from the story
- NuriaI don't know. I didn't touch the computer. Only the photocopier!No sé. No toqué el ordenador. ¡Solo la fotocopiadora!
- NuriaYesterday... I arrived late, paid for the coffees... just like the first day!Ayer... llegué tarde, pagué los cafés... ¡como el primer día!