Magic E: "vowel-consonant-E" pattern (fate — fat)
Quite often when we have a "vowel-consonant-E" pattern, like in Kate, the stressed vowel gives a long sound. On the contrary, if there is a consonant at the end (like in cat), we get a closed syllable and a short vowel sound.
Let's see which sound each vowel gives, with "e" and without "e" at the end. Don't forget to listen to the examples.
A_cons_E → /eɪ/
A_cons → /æ/
Jane — jam
cane — can
plane — plan
E_cons_E → /ɪː/
E_cons → /e/
Pete — pet
delete — let
I or Y_cons_E → /ai/
I_cons → /i/
white — wit
fine — coffin
pine — pin
site — sit
byte — bit
Skype — skip
O_cons_E → /əʊ/
O_cons → /ɒ/
code — cod
woke — wok
hope — hop
U_cons_E → /juː/
U_cons → /ʌ/
cute — cut
tune — tun