Which Is Correct?

[Stargazer]

"I was sitting at my computer when......"
"I was seated at my computer when....."
"I was sat at my computer when ....."

[AlwaysConfused]

I'm no expert, but I'd say 'sat'

[AlwaysConfused]

actually, not sure if that is correct! I'll go for I was sitting

[Prudie]

They all seem OK but I think 'sat' is the most grammatically incorrect

[pusskin]

sitting?

[BigMac]

The first two are fine - the last one could be correct if someone showed you to your place.

[Stargazer]

I am certain that "I was sat " etc is incorrect but is used so widely nowadays that everyone seems to say it. I was rebuked by my brother when I used the word "sat" when speaking to him on the telephone. I then realised that it had become normal to my ears although clearly incorrect.

[MargoTester]

I would go for 'I was sitting'

[hc4361]

I was using my computer when.......

[ducksie]

I'm just curious to know what happened when you were sitting, sat, seated at your computer :)

[retrocop]

Cop out here.
I was using/operating my computer when.... :-)

[Hypognosis]

I was sitting (ongoing action) when (ensuing ongoing action)

It's at least an internally consistent structure. Can't comment on correctness yet.


I sat - a completed action
I was sat - ditto but the 'was' seems redundant because 'sat' is already past tense.

To me, 'seated' is an adjective/adverb, not a verb. "The person was (verb) seated (adverb).

[jourdain2]

Definitely not 'sat'.

[Jackdaw33]

The verb to sit can be either transitive or intransitive. In its transitive sense it implies putting someone into a sitting position, so, 'Mother sat the baby in his high chair' but, 'The baby was sitting (intransitive) in his high chair'.

[Georgiesmum]

sitting for me
not sat

[Jackdaw33]

Seated is OK as it is the past participle in both transitive and intransitive meanings.

[Hypognosis]

Anyone want to explain to me (jourdain) why it's "definitely not" sat?

Longman Pocket English dictionary (only 60000 entries)

sat /sat||sæt/ past of SIT

sit .... vb -tt-; sat ... vi (definitions)

[Jackdaw33]

You have answered your own question. I sat is fine, I was sat is only permissible if someone put you in the chair.

[horseshoes]

I was seated is better English although more "old fashioned".

[Hypognosis]

Thanks Jackdaw and horseshoes.

I did go to a grammar school but they (Lib-Lab pact) turned it into a Comprehensive school*. To anyone casting a too-casual eye over my CV, it looks like I was sent down. Grrrreat. :-/

So I never got to learn what transitive/intransitive meant, nor any other finer points of language. I've looked it up on Wikipedia but I'm too absent-minded to retain information for long, if I don't get a chance to put it to practical use, like telling somone else. That's the trouble with the internet; because it is all on tap the tendency is to not bother committing information to memory because you can always look again later. That and the flood of stuff we're expected to know, these days.


* about ten years away from its 500th anniversary, too. Gee, thanks Lib-Lab pact.