Here's why:
* Short vowel sounds: In "pear," the "e" makes a short vowel sound, similar to the sound in "bed" or "pen."
* Long vowel sounds: Long vowel sounds are usually associated with a vowel followed by a silent "e" (like "cake," "kite") or a double vowel (like "moon," "rain").
Therefore, the "e" in "pear" has a short vowel sound, not a long one.