Here's why:
* Spelling: The "eye" spelling is a common way to indicate a long vowel sound in English.
* Sound: The sound in "eye" is the same as the sound in "I" (as in "I am"). This is a long vowel sound.
* Contrast: Compare the sound in "eye" to the short vowel sound in words like "egg" or "end".
Let me know if you have any other questions!