They are sat at dinner.

They are sat at dinner.


Is the above sentence correct? If so, how does it differ from:

They sit at dinner.

Thanks! :wink:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tianshan

They are sat at dinner.


Is the above sentence correct?

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No, it is not.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tianshan

They are sat at dinner.


Is the above sentence correct? If so, how does it differ from:

They sit at dinner.

Thanks! :wink:

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“Sat” is a widespread BE colloquialism for “sitting” (for example “there’s a bird sat on the fence”). This is very bad grammar IMHO, and it seems to be an exclusively BE problem. I don’t think it’s found in AE at all.

(:shock:)

Right. I've never heard here.


We can also say: We are sitting at the dinner table.



Does anyone do that anymore?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tianshan

They are sat at dinner.


Is the above sentence correct? If so, how does it differ from:

They sit at dinner.

Thanks! :wink:

---

We can say: They are sitting at the dinner table.

They sit at the dinner table every evening at seven o'clock.

In fairly formal British English, I have heard 'sit to dinner', meaning the action of sitting at the table. :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tdol

In fairly formal British English, I have heard 'sit to dinner', meaning the action of sitting at the table. :D

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That sounds very odd to my AE perception of English. I would tell someone that it is simply wrong. I've never heard in any context "sit to dinner". To me, it simply sounds like the wrong preposition.

:shock: :shock:

I don't use it, but I've heard it. I don't think I've ever taught it, either. :shock: