The Magic E
The MAGIC E is a grammar rule in English which helps readers distinguish (understand) the difference between two words spelled really similarly, but one with one extra letter at the end.
For example:
CAN and CANE
Many readers want to pronounce the letter A the exact same way, in both words and possibly add another sound to the end for the letter E. But this ISNĀ“T CORRECT.
The letter E at the end of an English word (typically four or five letters long), CHANGES THE PRONUNCIATION of the word AND THE MEANING OF THAT WORD.
CAN has a short A sound, like MAN or BAN.
CANE is pronounced by saying the first vowel (in this case A) as it sounds in the alphabet. C-A-N-E. (SAME, BLAME, GAME)
BUT DONĀ“T FORGET, WE DO NOT PRONOUNCE THE MAGIC E. THIS LETTER IS SILENT.
Below is a list of words that has similarly spelled words, one WITHOUT the letter E on the end, and one with it.
| without E | with E |
|---|---|
| CAN (to be able to do something) | CANE (a stick to walk with) |
| SAM (a name of a woman or man) | SAME (identical) |
| MAN (an adult male) | MANE (horses hair) |
Now practice pronouncing (out loud) some more magic E words on your own. REMEMBER TO NOT pronounce the letter E on the end.Ā
FACE
MEME
PETE
WAVE
WAKE
WIPE
SWIPE
FILE
HIDE
NINE
HOME
NOTE
POKE
MULE
TUBE
Once you have completed these, write and translate the words you do not know into your notebook. Repeat reading them aloud one more time.Ā