Phonics Word Families

Hey there!

Today, let’s talk about a fun little rule in the English language that can help you understand how to pronounce words when you have two vowels together. Sometimes when you have two vowels in a row, the second vowel can change the way you say the first vowel.

For example, let’s look at the word “Sam.” If we add an “e” to the end of “Sam,” it becomes “same.” Here, the second vowel “e” changes the short sound of the first vowel “a” into a long sound. So instead of saying “Sam” with a short “a” sound, we now say “same” with a long “a” sound.

In the same way, when we look at other words like “Ram,” “jam,” “can,” and “dam,” we can see how adding an “e” to the end changes the pronunciation. “Ram” becomes “rame,” “jam” becomes “jame,” “can” becomes “came,” and “dam” becomes “dame.”

Let’s explore a few more examples! When we apply this rule, we find that “can” becomes “cane,” “fan” turns into “fane,” “lan” changes to “lane,” “man” transforms into “Mane,” “pan” becomes “pane,” and “van” changes to “vane.”

So, by adding that second vowel, we are essentially changing the way we say the first vowel from a short sound to a long sound. It’s a simple rule that can help you figure out how to pronounce words correctly when you come across those tricky two-vowel situations.

Remember, English can be a bit tricky with its rules, but understanding these little tricks can make learning and speaking the language a lot more fun and interesting. Practice saying these words out loud to get the hang of the rule, and soon you’ll be able to apply it to many other words as well.

Keep on exploring the wonders of language, and before you know it, you’ll be a pro at figuring out pronunciation rules like this one. Have fun learning and experimenting with words – you never know what new discoveries you might make along the way!