What phrase captures the essence of the vowel pair rule?

The phrase "Two vowels go walking, the first one does the talking" accurately captures the essence of the vowel pair rule. This rule suggests that when two vowels appear together in a word, the first vowel typically represents its long sound, while the second vowel is silent. For example, in the word "boat," the 'o' is pronounced with its long sound, and the 'a' remains silent. This concept is fundamental in phonics instruction, helping students understand how vowel combinations function in different words and enhancing their reading and pronunciation skills.

The other options do not effectively convey the principle behind the vowel pair rule. For instance, the statement about two vowels never making a sound is misleading, as they can produce sounds, particularly when applied correctly in words. The idea that one vowel means the other is silent is partially true but does not encompass the rule entirely, as it overlooks the long sound aspect. Lastly, the phrase regarding vowels always closing syllables does not relate directly to the vowel pair rule but rather pertains to syllable structure in general.