Among the alphabets used in English, ’E’ has given the more importance. Hence it may be called as elixir of the language. We can find it in the earth, men, women, bread and butter we eat. Besides, it has a lot to do with the pronunciation. When it does some alphabets cry loud in a word and vanishes, we call it MAGIC ‘e’ or silent ‘e’.
What is Magic ‘e’ or Silent ‘e’?
When the letter ‘e’ sits at the end of a word it becomes silent and makes the vowels near it or a step away from it to cry(pronounce) loud.
Examples:
When you pronounce the difference between the words given below, it will be easier to understand the silent ’e’.
| Without ‘e’ | With ‘e’ |
| hug | huge |
| slop | slope |
| grip | gripe |
| plan | plane |
From the above it is clear that the letter ‘e’ makes the short vowel sound into a long vowel sounds.
Magic ‘e’ Phonics Words List
following is a list of words with silent e:
| Lake | hide | Rope |
| Rate | White | Live |
| State | Tune | Time |
| Paste | Price | Quite |
| sale | Spine | race |
Rules for Magic ‘e’
1. Not more than one word between ‘e’ and the vowels:
Consider the word race here the vowel’ a’ is one step precede ‘e’ and hence the magic of the ’ e ‘ works here .The short sound vowel ‘a’ sounds long here and ‘e’ becomes silent. Similarly, incase of the word wearable vowel more than one letter is between ‘a’ and ‘e’ and hence the magic of ‘e’ not works here.
2. Not applicable in verbs:
The magic ‘e’ is not applicable in most of the verbs. For example: care, stare, bore, store etc..
3. Exceptional words:
There are some words mightier to withstand the magical power of ‘e’ and they are called odd words. Some of them are square, tube, some etc..
We hope that now you will understand the functioning of magic’e’ and its exceptions. Keep exploring englishbix for simplified learning.