In English grammar, the past participle form of a verb is referred to as the “-ed form.” It is also known as the perfect participle or third-verb form. The past participle is used to construct the perfect tenses (present perfect, past perfect, and future perfect), as well as the passive voice. It can also be used as an adjective.

In English, there are two sorts of verbs: regular verbs and irregular verbs. The past participle of a regular verb is formed by adding –ed to the base form of the verb. For example, the past participle of the verb “walk” is “walked”.

These forms are for Regular Verbs only. For Irregular Verbs, we have no idea how to add “ed“; we only learn them by heart or recite them. I’ll post them later. And I will post a link for you after I write them. So, don’t worry. Let’s get started with the “ed form” of Regular Verbs for now.

The Spelling Rules of “ED” of Verbs

Rule 1

We generally add “ed” to the end of a verb when we want to make the past simple.

Look                > looked

Talk                 > talked

Watch              > watched

Finish              > finished

Rule 2

When a verb ends in “e”, we add only “d”.

Bake                > baked

Smile               > smiled

Like                 > liked

Save                 > saved

Rule 3

When a verb ends in “ee”, we also add only “d”.

Agree              > agreed

Free                 > freed

Disagree          > disagreed

Rule 4

When a verb ends in a vowel plus “w or x”, we add “ed”.

Relax               > relaxed

Fix                   > fixed

Show               > showed

Review            > reviewed

Rule 5

When a verb ends in a consonant plus “-y”, we need to change “y” to “i ” and add “ed”.

Try                   > tried

Cry                  > cried

Study              > studied

Marry              > married

Rule 6

When a verb ends in a vowel plus “-y”, we don’t change it, we add only “ed”.

Enjoy               > enjoyed

Stay                 > stayed

play                 > played

destroy             > destroyed

Rule 7

When one-syllable verbs end in a vowel and a consonant, we need to double the final consonant before adding “ed”.

Stop                 > stopped

Plan                 > planned

Dub                 > dubbed

Crop                > cropped

Rule 8

When two or more syllable verbs end in a vowel and a consonant, we need to double the final consonant if the last syllable is stressed.

Admit              > admitted

Commit           > committed

Refer               > referred

Prefer              > preferred

Rule 9

When two or more syllable verbs end in a vowel and a consonant, we don’t need to double the final consonant if the last syllable isn’t stressed.

Target              > targeted

Visit                > visited

Happen            > happened

Open               > opened

Listen              > listened

Rule 10

When a verb ending in “c”, we need to add “-k” before adding “ed”.

Picnic              > picnicked

Mimic              > mimicked

Traffic             > trafficked

Rule 11

When a verb ends in a vowel plus “-L’’ then we need to double the final “L’’ before adding “ed” in British English.

Equal               > equalled

Travel              > travelled

Control            > controlled

Special Note About American English Rule

But in American English, we don’t need to double the final “L” if the last syllable isn’t stressed, and we need to double it if the last syllable isn’t stressed.

Equal               > equaled

Travel              > traveled

Control            > controlled

Distil               > distilled

Note: If you think that there is some missing info or anything wrong, do not hesitate to comment below in the comment section. We also feel happy to correct it.