This tip deals with the pronunciation of the word-final sequence <se> when the preceding letter is <a> (NOT <ea>).
abase base *carcase case chase *purchase
In this first list the final consonant is s. The vowel preceding the ending is eɪ, except for the two words marked with an asterisk where it is ə.
erase lase mase tase phase phrase vase
In the second list the final consonant is z. The vowel again is eɪ, except for the last word where it is ɑː.
There are many technical terms ending in <ase>, most of them the names of enzymes. The pronunciation of the ending for these words is eɪz. Some examples:
activase amylase carbohydrase polymerase transcriptase
2013_10_28