The long a sound can be spelled in different ways. These spelling patterns are called long vowel patterns. Knowing the most common patterns will help you read and spell words correctly.
The long a says its name. Different patterns are used in different parts of words.
When the letter a is followed by a consonant and then a silent e, the a makes the long /ā/ sound. This is called the "magic e" or "silent e" pattern.
Remember: the e at the end is silent, but it makes the a say its name.
The vowel team ai makes the long /ā/ sound. This pattern usually appears in the middle of a word.
Think of ai as a long a sound that appears in the middle of words.
The vowel team ay also makes the long /ā/ sound. It is usually found at the end of a word or syllable.
Use ay at the end of words, not in the middle.
Reading long a words in sentences helps us see how the patterns are used in real reading.
When reading, stop and notice which pattern is making the long a sound.