He's sitting in a chair vs He's sitting on a chair

Both phrases are correct, but they convey slightly different meanings. 'He's sitting in a chair' implies that he is physically inside the chair, while 'he's sitting on a chair' suggests that he is seated on top of the chair. The choice between 'in' and 'on' depends on the specific position of the person in relation to the chair.

Last updated: March 27, 2024 • 2299 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"He's sitting in a chair"

This phrase is used to indicate that someone is physically inside a chair, sitting down.

Examples:

He's sitting in a chair by the window.
She's comfortable sitting in a chair with a cushion.
The child is happily sitting in a chair at the dining table.
I prefer sitting in a chair rather than on the floor.
The cat is curled up, sitting in a chair.

Show examples from the web [+]

One minute he's buying you shirts, and the next minute he's sitting in a chair in the corner of your bedroom watching you sleep.
"He's sitting in a chair talking to another person."
You're sitting in a chair that costs more than my car...
Maybe I'm supposed to be sitting in a chair.
You're sitting in a chair In the sky.
His hands were tied and he was sitting in a chair opposite me.
It was an emaciated, bulimic dancer sitting in a chair for two hours and occasionally having what looked like seizures.
If you were sitting in a chair for 40 years, you'd get bored, too.
Larry King is so old he had to retire from sitting in a chair.
My old man, he's just sitting in his chair.
Now, Mr. Zilgram is sitting in this chair because he's a very bad man.
We're sitting in folding chairs. He's talking about sportsmanship.
A week ago, my partner was sitting in that chair, and now he's dead.
Let alone sitting in a chair in my office?
Is sitting in a chair... is that scary?
That half-blind portrait artist didn't realize I was sitting in a chair while my sister was standing, and now half of Europe thinks I'm a dwarf.
You know, like I could be sitting in a chair and it's 2:00.
Didn't realize how much I'd miss sitting in chairs.
And he's sitting in my chair.
It's the only picture there will ever be of the two of us, and he's sitting in this chair.

Alternatives:

He's seated in a chair.
He's relaxing in a chair.
He's comfortably settled in a chair.
He's occupying a chair.
He's taking a seat in a chair.

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"He's sitting on a chair"

This phrase is used to indicate that someone is seated on top of a chair, rather than inside it.

Examples:

He's sitting on a chair at the dining table.
She's perched on a chair by the desk.
The cat is mischievously sitting on a chair.
I found him sitting on a chair in the garden.
The child is balancing on a chair.

Show examples from the web [+]

My wife is sitting on a chair someplace.
But I've been sitting on a chair for too long.
It's a man sitting on a chair.
It's this crazy statue of this giant monster sitting on a chair that represents all of America's enemies.
I thought she'd be in Heaven, but she's sitting on a chair with a bullet in her head.
You can help by sitting on that chair and not moving.
Big hair, Bambi eyes, sitting on the chair.
When the empress died, she was buried sitting on this chair.
Big hair, Bambi eyes, sitting on the chair.
A cat was sitting on the chair.
You're sitting in a chair that costs more than my car...
Maybe I'm supposed to be sitting in a chair.
You're sitting in a chair In the sky.
Sitting on a chair, he looked at me and said:
You think flying a plane is just sitting on a chair pushing buttons?
I saw this woman ripping Squaw and you'd be sitting on a chair and a guy would be like,
Haven't you noticed there's often a fisherman sitting on a chair?
One minute he's buying you shirts, and the next minute he's sitting in a chair in the corner of your bedroom watching you sleep.
Sitting on a hard chair all day watching you pirouette was not my idea of fun.
I'm sitting on an Estonian chair.

Alternatives:

He's seated on a chair.
He's perched on a chair.
He's balancing on a chair.
He's occupying a chair.
He's taking a seat on a chair.

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He's sitting in a chair vs He's sitting on a chair