Grammar-Quizzes › Writing Aids › Confusing Words › Sit vs. Set
Sit vs. Set
Who or what is sitting — the subject or the object?
sit set
Sit vs. Set
| SIT |
|---|
Use sit for an action that a person or animal does by oneself. Sit is an intransitive verb – it does not take an object. |
My dog is sitting by the door. (present progressive) |
My dog sits next to my desk while I am working. (present) |
She sat down next to me and stayed there. (past) |
She has sat with me several times before. (present perfect) |
Sit down! Good dog. (command) |
| SET |
|---|
Use set for an action that a person does to someone or something else. Set is a transitive verb – it requires an object. (place or position something) |
The woman is setting the pup next to its mother. (present progressive) |
She sets the pup down next its mother so it can feed. (present) |
She set the pup down next its mother a minute ago. (past) |
She has set the pup down several times. (present perfect) |
Set the pup down and leave it alone. (command) |
Also see Intransitive verbs.
Sit
Additional meanings
Sit — additional meanings
| MEANING | EXAMPLES |
|---|---|
POSE (V) |
He sat for an artist who painted his picture. It took several sittings. (past tense) |
TO BE LOCATED (V) |
Our house sits on a hill over the town. (present tense) |
REST OR LIE (V) |
He has an aura of greatness that sits upon him. (present tense) |
REMAIN INACTIVE (V) |
Congress let the bill sit for several months. |
HOLD A POSITION (V) |
Thurgood Marshall sat on the Supreme Court for twenty-four years. (past tense) |
BABYSIT (V) |
She baby sits for us every Saturday night. |
| PHRASAL VERBS | |
SIT DOWN (V) |
Please sit down and stay for a while. (be seated) |
SIT UP (V) |
Sit up straight and put your hands in your lap. (maintain good posture) |
SIT ON / UPON (V) |
They sat on the news for several weeks before revealing the truth. (hid) |
SIT IN (V) |
The violinist had to sit in for another musician who was ill. (take the place of) |
SIT OUT (V) |
Because he had a cold, he had to sit out the next game. (be absent from) |
| EXPRESSIONS | |
SIT PRETTY (V) |
He was sitting pretty until the police figured out his scam and sent him to jail. (be in a comfortable situation) |
SIT TIGHT (V) |
Just sit tight. We'll be there in a few minutes. (remain patient and calm) |
SIT ON ONE'S HANDS (V) |
The officials sat on their hands instead of taking action. (failed to take appropriate action) |
Set
Additional meanings
Set – Additional Meanings
| MEANING | EXAMPLES |
|---|---|
SET THE TABLE (V) |
She set the table with her best silverware. (past tense) |
SET (V) (place in position) |
She set the painting on end because it looked better that way. (past) |
SET FIRE (V) |
They set fire to his house. (past tense) |
SET HAIR (V) |
The hairdresser washed and set my grandmother's hair. (put in rollers to curl) |
SET THE VALUE (V) |
The agent set the value of our house at one million dollars. (past tense) |
SET TO WORK (V) |
Snow White set to work cleaning up the seven dwarves house. (past tense) |
SET A DATE (V) |
We set our wedding date for August 25. (past tense) |
SET FREE (V) |
She opened the bird cage and set the pigeon free. (past tense) |
SET LIMITATIONS (V) |
The government set a limit on how much they would loan the automakers. (past tense) |
SET ONE'S MIND (V) |
You can achieve anything you want if you set your mind to it. (past tense) |
SET A GOOD EXAMPLE (V) |
By helping others, he set a good example for his kids. (past tense) |
SET A FAST PACE (V)) |
Michael Phelps set a fast pace for all the other swimmers. (past tense) |
SET A DEVICE (V) |
He set the clocks to the correct time. Then he set the thermostat to 68 degrees. (past tense) |
SET A DIAMOND (V) |
The jeweler set four diamonds and two pearls on her wedding ring. |
SET A FOUNDATION (V) |
They set the bridge supports in concrete. (to place or plant firmly - past tense) |
SET A LIMB (V) |
The doctor set his leg after he had broken it. (reposition or straighten a broken bone - past tense) |
SET TO MUSIC (V) |
The musician set the words to music. (wrote music for lyrics - past tense) |
SET SAIL (V) |
The ship set sail at dawn. (went to sea - past tense) |
SET (V) (HARDEN OR GEL) |
The carpenter glued the leg on the chair and let it set for 24 hours. (harden- past tense) |
SUNSET (N.) / SET (V) |
Sunset is at 8:30 p.m. The sun sets later in summertime. |
SET A RECORD (V) |
Michael Phelps set a record for winning the most swimming competitions. (past tense) |
SET ABOUT (V) (begin) |
He set about putting is finances in order. (past tense) |
SET AGAINST (V) (oppose) |
He was set against borrowing any money. |
SET OUT (V) (begin with determination) |
We set out to win the tournament. |
SET APART (V) (distinguish) |
Her bright red hair set her apart from all the other performers. |
| PHRASAL VERBS | |
SET UP (V) (initiate, install, arrange) |
He set up my computer with speakers, a printer and a scanner. |
SET OFF |
As soon as it was dark, we set off the fireworks. (exploded) |
Common Mistakes
Errors and Solutions
Error and Solution
| ERROR |
|---|
* I think I'll set down for a rest. |
* Set down! |
* She has setted the table already. |
| ERROR |
|---|
I think I'll sit down for a rest. (intransitive) |
Sit down. (intransitive) |
She has set the table already. (past participle is same as present) |
* incorrect usage
Practice1
A welcoming
Read Context
Eve: Please come in and s_t down and have a cup of coffee. Make yourself comfortable.
Al: Thank you.
Eve: You can s_t your things here if you'd like.
Eve: Would you like to s_t in a more comfortable chair? I s_t in that chair yesterday and found it to be rather uncomfortable. Perhaps we should s_t that uncomfortable chair in another room.
Al: It's OK. I'll be fine with it.
Eve: If you'd like, you can s_t your laptop on the coffee table. However, it moves a bit because it is s_tting with one leg on the carpet and the other legs on the floor.
Eve: I s_t the table there yesterday while vacuuming and forgot to move it back. If you will just move it a bit, it will be fine.
Al: I'll do that. Thank you.
Sit or Set?
- Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "Check 1-8" button at the bottom, or click the check button to the left as you go.
Practice 2
A pep-talk to a player
Read Context
We s__t up a television interview this evening. You'll be speaking. Remember to s__t up straight and speak confidently. Tell everyone that we have s__t out to be the number one team in the country.
Mr. Williams may also be there. He s__ts on the board of directors. He will announce that we have s__t the date for the exhibition game.
The interviewer will s__t the pace of the interview. If he asks about Ray Binbacker, change the subject. You don't want to s__t off more questions. Unfortunately, Ray may have to s__t out the season due to a knee injury.
If we s__t our minds to it, we can win this season. We'll be s__tting pretty if we can get more corporate sponsors. However, if we s__t on our hands, we'll fall behind. What s__ts us apart from our competition is our desire to win.
competition (N) — a situation in which people or organizations try to be more successful than other people or organizations
corporate sponsors (pl. n.) — funding, money given by a business to support a team
injury (N) — a wound or damage to part of your body caused by an accident or attack
pep-talk (N) — a talk meant to energize and encourage a person to perform well
Is it a sit or set expression?
- Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "Check 9-20" button at the bottom, or click the check button to the left as you go.