A digraph is a combination of two letters that come together to represent a single sound. The a-e combination is known as a split digraph because the two letters are not next to each other in the word.
In the case of these words, the a-e indicates the long /a/ sound. This sound is different from the short /a/ sound we find in words like cat or hat. Whenever you see the a-e duo in a word, think of it as a clue to the word’s pronunciation. When you add the e to the end of the word, it makes the a say its name. You can click on the speak icons to hear the long /a/ sound in each of these words.
Watch out! There are six other ways to spell the long /a/ sound so use the spelling activities to get to grips with the a-e spelling pattern.
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He wanted to get good grades in school.
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I'll trade you my cards for yours.
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Which cakes shall we bake today?
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The car had to brake hard.
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The earthquake made the ground shake.
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Some of the team were late for the game.
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The flame flickered.
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The picture frame is made of silver.
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Would you like a grape?
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I had to chase my dog through the field.
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I accidentally dropped the plate.
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My brother can skate.
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We mashed the garlic into a paste.
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Lemons have a sour taste.
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This was a complete waste of time.
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His brave actions put his life in jeopardy.
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My brother wants to shave all his hair off.
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The firefighters quickly put out the blaze.
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My horse likes to graze in the grassy field.
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