Final answer:
The 'ai' combination is occasionally used in the middle of the syllable to make the long /a/ sound, pronounced as [ā]. The long /a/ sound can also be spelled as 'ay' or 'a-consonant-e' as in the words 'lay' and 'cake'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The spelling of /a/ that is occasionally used in the middle of the syllable to make the long /a/ sound, which is pronounced [ā] as in 'ate', is 'ai'. Other examples of the long /a/ sound in the middle of syllables include words like 'rain', 'sail', and 'paint', where the 'ai' combination is used to represent this sound. In contrast, the short /a/ sound, spelled [a] and pronounced as in 'at', typically uses just the single letter 'a'.
It's important to note that English spelling can be quite complex, with various letter combinations used to represent the same sound depending on the word and its origin. For example, 'ay' as in 'lay' and 'a-consonant-e' as in 'cake' can also signify the long /a/ sound.