Here's how it works:
* Short Vowel: When a vowel is followed by a single consonant and then another consonant, the vowel usually has a short sound. For example, "cat," "pet," "hop," "bug," "run."
* Long Vowel: Adding a silent "e" at the end of a word often makes the vowel before it long. For example, "cate," "pete," "hope," "buge," "rune."
This is a common rule in English spelling, but there are always exceptions. For example, the word "live" has a long "i" sound, but the word "give" has a short "i" sound, even though they both end in a silent "e."
Let me know if you want to explore other spelling rules or want to look at more examples.