ed ending

[salvador.dal1950]

Hello teachers. I've been taught that when a word ends with /tʃ/, like in watch (/wɒtʃ/), if we add the suffix -ed to the word, it is pronounced /t/.

So, why does the suffix -ed in wretched is pronounced /ɪd/: /ˈretʃɪd/?

Thank you! :up:

 

[emsr2d2]

Hello teachers. I've been taught that when a word ends with /tʃ/, like in watch (/wɒtʃ/), if we add the suffix -ed to the word, it is pronounced /t/.

So, why does the suffix -ed in wretched is pronounced /ɪd/: /ˈretʃɪd/?

Thank you! :up:

The rule you have quoted usually refers to verbs in the simple past. The word "wretched" is an adjective. The same can be said for the adjective "crooked" which has two syllables, like "wretched". However, "crooked" can also be a simple past verb and in that case, it has one syllable and is pronounced with the same /t/ ending as "watched".

 

[Odessa Dawn]

***NOT A TEACHER***

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Please check this if you (OP) are still interested learning some other words that follow the same pattern.

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[emsr2d2]

Additionally, there is a verb "to retch". The simple past is "retched" - one syllable. If you add a "w" at the beginning, you get the adjective "wretched" which has two syllables.