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was sat vs was sitting

Both "was sat" and "was sitting" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Was sitting" is the more common and versatile choice, indicating an ongoing action in the past. On the other hand, "was sat" is less common and usually implies someone else placed the person in a seated position.

Last updated: March 08, 2024 • 904 views

was sat

This phrase is correct but less common in English. It implies that someone else placed the person in a seated position.

This phrase is used to indicate that someone was placed in a seated position by someone else in the past.

Examples:

  • He was sat down by his mother before the meeting started.
  • The children were sat at the table by the teacher.
  • Feb 8, 2012 ... Is the dialect expression “He was sat ...” in place of “He was sitting ...”, which is quite common in the UK, also found in US English? When I first ...
  • Dec 31, 2007 ... I hear so many British saying I was sat waiting for an hour or I was stood in the rain. Isn't that grammatically wrong? Shouldn't it be: I was ...
  • Oct 3, 2012 ... so why, oh why do many people say 'I was sat' or 'we're stood'? The answer's not clear, but my research shows that this usage (which used to ...
  • I have observed that English people may say «was sat» in place of «was sitting». It appears to be a northern English idiom. In my opinion, it is used for humorous ...

Alternatives:

  • was seated
  • was placed in a chair
  • was made to sit
  • was positioned in a seat
  • was settled in a chair

was sitting

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate an ongoing action in the past.

This phrase is used to describe an action that was in progress in the past.

Examples:

  • She was sitting on the bench when I arrived.
  • I was sitting in the park when it started to rain.
  • Jan 30, 2014 ... But, in the second sentence he was sitting normally like any other person with/ without any compulsion. – hellodear Jan 30 '14 at 16:45 ...
  • Dec 31, 2007 ... Shouldn't it be: I was sitting..., I was standing...? I have even heard broadcasters on the BBC use this seemingly incorrect form! Is there some ...
  • I was sitting you were sitting he was sitting we were sitting you were sitting they were sitting. Pluperfect. I had been sitting you had been sitting he had been ...
  • Oct 3, 2012 ... I sit, I sat, sitting, sat, I am (or I'm) sitting, I was sitting. I stand, I stood, standing, stood, I am (or I'm) standing, I was standing. I jump, I jumped ...

Alternatives:

  • was seated
  • was in a sitting position
  • was occupying a seat
  • was placed in a chair
  • was settled in a chair

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