Here's why:
* Precede has the long e sound, pronounced like the "e" in "see".
* Sentence has a short e sound, like the "e" in "set".
* Maneuver has a short e sound, like the "e" in "men".
Here's why:
* Precede has the long e sound, pronounced like the "e" in "see".
* Sentence has a short e sound, like the "e" in "set".
* Maneuver has a short e sound, like the "e" in "men".