In a CVCe word, what is the role of the final 'e'?

In a CVCe word, the final 'e' is silent and serves a crucial role in altering the pronunciation of the preceding vowel. When you see a word structured as consonant-vowel-consonant followed by an 'e' (CVCe), the presence of the final 'e' indicates that the vowel sound is long rather than short.

For example, in the word "made," the 'a' is pronounced with a long vowel sound because of the silent 'e' at the end. Without that 'e,' the word "mad" has a short 'a' sound. Thus, the final 'e' not only remains unpronounced but also affects the way we articulate the vowel earlier in the word, enforcing the long vowel pronunciation.

This principle is foundational in phonics instruction, helping students decode words by understanding how certain structures influence sounds. The other options do not accurately represent the function of the final 'e' in CVCe words, focusing instead on aspects that do not pertain to the role it plays in vowel pronunciation.