Sit and set.
261. Sit and set have principal parts as follows:—
| Present Tense. | Past Tense. | Pres. Participle. | Past Participle. |
| 1. Sit | sat | sitting | sat |
| 2. Set | set | setting | set |
Notice these points of difference between the two verbs:—
(1) Sit, with its forms, is always intransitive in use. In meaning, sit signifies (a) to place one's self on a seat, to rest; (b) to be adjusted, to fit; (c) to cover and warm eggs for hatching, as, "The hen sits."
(2) Set, with its forms, is always transitive in use when it has the following meanings: (a) to put or place a thing or person in position, as "He set down the book;" (b) to fix or establish, as, "He sets a good example."
Set is intransitive when it means (a) to go down, to decline, as, "The sun has set;" (b) to become fixed or rigid, as, "His eyes set in his head because of the disease;" (c) in certain idiomatic expressions, as, for example, "to set out," "to set up in business," "to set about a thing," "to set to work," "to set forward," "the tide sets in," "a strong wind set in," etc.
Exercise.
Examine the forms of lie, lay, sit and set in these sentences; give the meaning of each, and correct those used wrongly.
1. If the phenomena which lie before him will not suit his purpose, all history must be ransacked.