Here's why:
* Short vowel sound: The "a" in "flat" has a short vowel sound, like the "a" in "cat."
* Long vowel sound: Long vowel sounds are typically associated with a vowel followed by a consonant and then a silent "e" (like in "fate"), or a double vowel (like in "moon").
Let me know if you'd like to explore more about long and short vowels!