
Jill H. answered 04/18/19
World-Traveling French AP and IB Teacher
The short answer is: use the CaReFuL rule: If the word ENDS in the CONSONANTS of careful, they are pronounced--parC, fieR, neuF, cieL. But of course there are TONS of exceptions (like all the ER verbs....)
When there is an E, this FORCES the pronunciation of the consonant just before it (like when we add E to petitE....pah-teeT). Other vowels, when present, fend for themselves :)