What happens to the vowel sounds in one-syllable words when followed by a vowel digraph?

When one-syllable words that contain vowel sounds are followed by a vowel digraph, the vowel sounds typically become long. This phenomenon occurs because the vowel digraph influences the pronunciation of the preceding vowel. For instance, in words like "goat" or "seat," the presence of the digraph modifies the sound, causing the vowels to be pronounced with a longer duration compared to their short counterparts.

This characteristic is essential in phonics instruction because it helps learners understand the impact of vowel combinations on pronunciation, ultimately aiding in reading fluency and comprehension. The interaction between single vowels and vowel digraphs is a fundamental aspect in Multi-Sensory Structured Language Education, as it emphasizes the rules and patterns in English phonetics.