Here's why:
* Short vowel sound: The "i" in "hit" makes a short vowel sound, similar to the "i" in "pig" or "tin".
* Long vowel sound: Long vowel sounds are typically represented by a vowel followed by a silent "e" (like in "bike" or "kite") or a double vowel (like in "moon" or "rain").
Let me know if you'd like to explore other words!