A Linguistics Workbook, 4th Edition

Name

Section

3.1 Phonological Rules 1: English Past Tense

The examples in list I are representative of English verbs that form a regular past

tense (i.e., their past tense form can be predicted). These past tense forms are

shown in list 11. Like the English plural morpheme, the English regular past tense

morpheme has three variants: in this case, [t], [d], and [id].

Consider the data in lists I and 11. (To facilitate your study, write the last sound

of each word in the space provided.) Answer questions A-F, referring to distinctive

features in your answers. (Instructions on writing rules are found in appendixes 1

and 2, and a list of distinctive features is found in appendix 4.)

List I

1. please


2. grab


3. slam


4. plan


5. fit


6. fix


7. pack


8. peep


9. blend


10. seethe

l l. bomb

12. hang


13. fog


14. flush


15. knit

Last sound of verb List I1 [t], [d], or [id]

[zl pleased [dl

grabbed

slammed

planned

fitted

fixed

packed

peeped

blended

seethed

bombed

hanged

fogged

flushed

knitted

16. fade faded