Here's why:
* Short vowel sounds are typically found in words where the vowel is followed by one or two consonants. In "eight," the "e" is followed by the consonant "i" and the consonant "gh".
* Long vowel sounds are usually found in words where the vowel is followed by a single consonant and a silent "e" at the end.
Let me know if you have any other words you'd like to check!