Here's why:
* Short vowel sound: The "ee" in "sheep" makes a short vowel sound, similar to the "i" in "bit" or "lip".
* Long vowel sound: A long vowel sound is typically represented by a vowel followed by a silent "e" at the end of the word (like "mate" or "hope").
Therefore, "sheep" has a short vowel sound, not a long vowel sound.