Silent E Rule
Learn
The silent E is a magical letter! It does not make a sound, but it changes how other letters sound. Let us learn this important spelling rule!
What Is the Silent E Rule?
The silent E rule says: When a word ends with a vowel, then a consonant, then the letter E, the E is silent but it makes the first vowel say its name (long sound).
We call this the VCE pattern (Vowel-Consonant-E) or the "Magic E"!
The Magic E in Action
Watch how silent E changes words:
- cap + e = cape (short a becomes long a)
- kit + e = kite (short i becomes long i)
- hop + e = hope (short o becomes long o)
- cub + e = cube (short u becomes long u)
- pet + e = Pete (short e becomes long e)
Remember These Things About Silent E
- The E at the end is silent - you do not hear it
- The E makes the other vowel long - it says its name
- The E "jumps over" the consonant to make the vowel long
Many Words Use Silent E
Look for these common silent E words:
- Long A: make, cake, lake, bake, name, game, came
- Long I: bike, like, time, line, side, ride, five
- Long O: home, bone, rope, nose, rose, code, note
- Long U: cute, mule, cube, tube, huge, use
Worked Examples
Example 1: Adding Silent E
Problem: What happens when you add E to "bit"?
Step 1: Start with "bit" - it has a short I sound
Step 2: Add E to the end: "bite"
Step 3: The E is silent, but makes the I long
Answer: "bite" - the I says its name (sounds like "eye")
Example 2: Removing Silent E
Problem: What word do you get if you remove the E from "tape"?
Step 1: Start with "tape" - t-a-p-e (long A sound)
Step 2: Remove the E: "tap"
Step 3: Without the E, the A is now short
Answer: "tap" (rhymes with "cap")
Example 3: Finding Silent E Words
Problem: Which words have a silent E? - made, mad, home, hot
Check each word:
- made - ends in E, has long A = yes, silent E
- mad - no E at end = no silent E
- home - ends in E, has long O = yes, silent E
- hot - no E at end = no silent E
Answer: "made" and "home" have silent E
Example 4: Spelling with Silent E
Problem: Spell the word for "a sweet treat you bake"
Step 1: The word is "cake"
Step 2: Listen - it has a long A sound
Step 3: Use silent E to make the A long
Answer: c-a-k-e (cake)
Example 5: Word Pairs
Problem: Match the short vowel word to its silent E partner
Short: pin, can, not | Silent E: cane, pine, note
pin - pine (add E, I becomes long)
can - cane (add E, A becomes long)
not - note (add E, O becomes long)
Practice Problems
Practice the silent E rule!
Problem 1: Add silent E to "mat." What new word do you get?
Show Answer
mate - The A is now long and says its name!
Problem 2: Does "rice" have a silent E?
Show Answer
Yes! The E is silent and makes the I long (says "eye").
Problem 3: Add silent E to "hop." What word do you get?
Show Answer
hope - The O is now long!
Problem 4: Remove the E from "time." What word do you get?
Show Answer
Tim - Now it is a name with a short I sound!
Problem 5: Which word has silent E: "rope" or "rock"?
Show Answer
rope - It ends in E and has a long O sound.
Problem 6: Add silent E to "tub." What word do you get?
Show Answer
tube - The U is now long!
Problem 7: Spell the word: It is something you fly that rhymes with "like."
Show Answer
kite - k-i-t-e (silent E makes the I long)
Problem 8: What is the vowel sound in "name"?
Show Answer
Long A - The silent E makes the A say its name.
Problem 9: Add silent E to "cut." What word do you get?
Show Answer
cute - The U is now long!
Problem 10: Name 3 words that use the silent E rule.
Show Answer
Examples: cake, bike, home, five, make, time, rose, game, like, note
Check Your Understanding
Question 1: What is the silent E rule?
Show Answer
When a word ends with a vowel, consonant, then E, the E is silent but makes the first vowel say its name (long sound).
Question 2: Why is it called "magic E"?
Show Answer
Because the E does not make any sound itself, but it magically changes how the other vowel sounds - like magic!
Question 3: How does adding E change "rob" to "robe"?
Show Answer
"Rob" has a short O sound. Adding E makes "robe" - now the O is long and says its name "oh."
Question 4: Is the E in "silent E words" ever pronounced?
Show Answer
No! The E is always silent (not pronounced). It only changes how the other vowel sounds.
Next Steps
- Practice: Find silent E words in your reading
- Play: Make word pairs (like cap/cape, bit/bite)
- Write: Use silent E words in your writing
- Challenge: List 5 silent E words for each vowel (A, I, O, U)