Sounds & Spelling

Stress & endings

In longer words, one part is said more strongly. And the ending -ed can be said in three ways.

1 Observe

Say each word aloud. Which part is stronger? How does the -ed end?

Photograph Say: FOH-tuh-grahf. Stress on the first part.
Photographer Say: fo-TOG-ra-fer. Stress moves to the second part.
Helped Say: HELPT. The -ed sounds like t.
Wanted Say: WON-tid. The -ed adds a syllable.

2 Discover

The stressed part of a word is said a little louder and longer. In PHOtograph it is the first part, but in phoTOGrapher it moves. The ending -ed has three sounds: t (helped), d (played) and id (wanted).

3 Apply

Which word's -ed ending adds an extra syllable?

Arjun ____ his mother carry the shopping. In which word does -ed sound like t?

Meera wants to study photography. How is 'photography' stressed?

4 Create

Write two sentences about yesterday. Use one -ed word ending in a t sound and one ending in id.

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Example: Rohan wanted a PHOtograph, so he asked the phoTOGrapher at the fair.

5 Explore

Open the stress and spelling cards. Say each word aloud and tap your hand on the strong part.

Advertise, advertisementSay: AD-ver-tize. To tell people about a product.Word stress Biology, biologicalSay: by-OL-uh-jee. The study of living things.Word stress Canada, CanadianSay: KAN-uh-duh. A large country in North America.Word stress Changing y to iConsonant + y: change y to i.Spelling rule Compute, computer, computationSay: kum-PYOOT. To calculate.Word stress Develop, developmentSay: dih-VEL-up. To grow or make something grow.Word stress Doubling before -ing and -edShort vowel + one consonant: double it.Spelling rule Dropping the silent eDrop the e before -ing.Spelling rule Economy, economic, economistSay: ih-KON-uh-mee. How a country makes and spends money.Word stressAges 15–20 Engine, engineer, engineeringSay: EN-jin. A machine that makes something move.Word stress History, historic, historianSay: HIS-tuh-ree. The study of the past.Word stress Hotel or hostelSay: hoh-TEL. A building where travellers pay to stay.Word stress I before e — with exceptionsi before e: the 'ee' sound.Spelling rule Japan, JapaneseSay: juh-PAN. A country in East Asia.Word stress Plurals with -esAfter s: add -es. Say: BUS-iz.Spelling rule The three -ed soundsSay: WAWKT. The -ed sounds like t.Spelling rule