Here's why:
* Long vowels are typically represented by the vowel letter itself (like "a" in "cake") or by a vowel combination (like "ai" in "rain").
* Short vowels have a shorter, more clipped sound (like the "a" in "cat").
* In "shade," the vowel sound is a short "a" sound, similar to the "a" in "cat".
Therefore, "shade" is a short vowel word.