why do we have the silent e, it's so useless?

Answer 1

First, as many have noted, it is NOT "useless", since it often serves to mark the preceding vowel as "long". (Note, for instance, the distinction between "hid" and "hide" -- it is the E that tells us that the "i" is long.)

This practical reason, including the fact that it distinguishes such pairs as hid/hide, explains why we did not simply drop this E


But there's another part to the explanation --how the E came to be there in the first place. In fact, this E at one time WAS pronounced. In Middle English it was pronounced, but changes in the language from late Middle English to Modern English (esp. the "Great Vowel Shift") led to its loss.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_E#History
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Vowel_Shift

Answer 2

There are many silent letters such as lam(b), de(b)t, han(d)some, and (k)nife. The pronunciation of some words have changed over two hundred to three hundred years but the spelling has stayed the same.

The silent e's "job" is to change a vowel sound, if there is another vowel to take its place, the 'e' can go away. For example, in the word 'coming' Instead of comeing- there is no need for the e so it is removed as another vowel ( i) takes its place. Same goes for fameous - no need for the e so it becomes famous.

Many words and their spellings tell a lot about their history- in fact keeping their spelling preserves their record of history. This doesn't go for all the words though.

Answer 3

If you mean the silent 'e' at the end of a word, it does serve a purpose. It tells you the vowel preceding it has a long sound. For instance the word CAN as opposed to the word CANE. You hear the A sound when the word ends in a silent e.

Answer 4

It is not quite useless. One of its purposes is to aid in correct pronunciation - is helps to difference between an open syllable and a closed one. For example: fate and fat. But on the other hand you are right. Together with other spelling of clusters of letters which are pronounced totally different, the English language just shows that the development of its written form is yet to catch up with its oral one.

Answer 5

The spelling system of English was invented a long time ago, back when the pronunciation was different. At that time, the spelling matched the pronunciation better. Now, the pronunciation has changed, but the spelling has remained the same.

Answer 6

If that's your opinion, then perhaps you should've written your question like this - why do we hav the silent e, it's so usless?

It tells you how you're supposed to stress a certain vowel, such as the U use so we pronounce it at YOUss, not like the word 'us'.

Answer 7

I tell my students that the silent 'e' makes the vowel say its own name,, in other words it makes the difference between a short vowel sound, as in 'tub' and a long vowel sound, as in 'tube'. Other examples: on, one; bit, bite; cub, cube; spit, spite. It does mak ane important differenc. oh,, it also makes that 'c' soft , not like a k.

Answer 8

Pronunciation. The arrangement of consonants and vowels determine how the vowels are used, short, long etc.

Answer 9

It is not useless. It makes the vowel say its name.

Answer 10

Just to torture kindergarten through second graders. I think the nuns came up with it in Catholic schools and it is a tradition that transcended religion.