What is the past tense of "sit"?

The past simple of "sit" is "sat". Please sit down.

What is a common mistake with "sit"?

Wrong: "He sitted on the chair.". Correct: "He sat on the chair.". Past tense of sit is 'sat', not 'sitted'.

How do you pronounce "sit"?

/sɪt/ — One syllable rhyming with 'it'. Short 'i' sound.

Conjugation of "Sit" — All Forms, Examples, and Usage

Q: What is the past participle of "sit"?

The past participle of "sit" is "sat". Use it after have/has/had: "I have sat".

Q: Is "sit" regular or irregular?

"Sit" is an irregular English verb. Pattern: irregular: sat/sat.

Look up another verb

All 12 Tenses of "Sit"

Quick reference table — every tense form of "sit" with the first-person example and a link to the grammar guide for that tense.

Tense	Example (I)	Quick rule
Simple Present	`I sit`	Used for habits, facts, routines, and permanent situations. Full rule →
Simple Past	`I sat`	Used for completed actions at a specific time in the past. Full rule →
Simple Future	`I will sit`	Used for predictions, decisions made at the moment, and promises. Full rule →
Present Continuous	`I am sitting`	Used for actions happening right now or temporary situations. Full rule →
Past Continuous	`I was sitting`	Used for actions in progress at a specific moment in the past. Full rule →
Future Continuous	`I will be sitting`	Used for actions that will be in progress at a specific future time. Full rule →
Present Perfect	`I have sat`	Used for past actions with present relevance, life experiences, or unfinished situations. Full rule →
Past Perfect	`I had sat`	Used for an action that was completed before another past action. Full rule →
Future Perfect	`I will have sat`	Used for an action that will be completed before a specific future time. Full rule →
Present Perfect Continuous	`I have been sitting`	Used for actions that started in the past and continue now, with focus on duration. Full rule →
Past Perfect Continuous	`I had been sitting`	Used for ongoing actions in the past that continued up to another past moment. Full rule →
Future Perfect Continuous	`I will have been sitting`	Used for actions that will have been ongoing up until a specific future time. Full rule →

Past Tense of "Sit" — Sat

The past simple of "sit" is "sat". Use it for completed actions at a specific past time. Because "sit" is irregular, "sat" is not formed by adding -ed — you have to memorize this form. See our simple past tense guide for a deeper explanation of the simple past.

She sat on the bench for an hour. A1

Past Participle of "Sit" — Sat

The past participle of "sit" is "sat". Use it after "have/has/had" for the perfect tenses ("I have sat"), and after "be" for passive constructions ("It was sat"). Because "sit" is irregular, "sat" is not the same as the past simple — students often confuse the two forms.

She sat on the bench for an hour. A1

Is "Sit" Regular or Irregular?

"Sit" is an irregular English verb. Its principal parts are: base form "sit", past simple "sat", and past participle "sat". The 3rd-person singular present is "sits" and the present participle/gerund is "sitting". Conjugation pattern: irregular: sat/sat.

Conjugation pattern: irregular: sat/sat

How to Pronounce "Sit" and Its Forms

Sit: /sɪt/ — Stress pattern: O

One syllable rhyming with 'it'. Short 'i' sound.

How to Use "Sit" — Common Grammar Patterns

Remember irregular past: sat, not sitted.

S + sit
S + sit + down
S + sit + for + time

Example Sentences with "Sit" in Different Tenses

Simple Present: Please sit down. A1
Simple Past: She sat on the bench for an hour. A1

Common Collocations with "Sit"

sit down
sit up
sit beside
sit together
sit still

When to Use "Sit" vs Similar Verbs

Smart synonyms — when to use each one

rest — take weight off feet for comfort
settle — sit down and become comfortable
be seated — formal polite way to request sitting

Antonyms: stand, rise

Common Mistakes with "Sit"

Wrong: She sit often.
Correct: She sits often.
Add "s" to the verb when the subject is third-person singular (he/she/it).

Origin and Etymology of "Sit"

From Old English sittan, related to German sitzen.

Other Forms of "Sit"

Noun: seat
Adjective: seated

Conjugation Tables for "Sit"

Negative Forms

Simple present: I do not sit · He does not sit
Simple past: I did not sit · She did not sit
Present perfect: I have not sat · He has not sat

Question Forms

Simple present: Do you sit? · Does he sit?
Simple past: Did you sit?
Present perfect: Have you sat?

Passive Voice (where applicable)

Simple present passive: It is sat
Simple past passive: It was sat
Present perfect passive: It has been sat

Frequently Asked Questions About "Sit"

Is "sit" regular or irregular?: "sit" is an irregular verb. Its past simple is "sat" and past participle is "sat". You must memorize these forms.
What is the past tense of "sit"?: The simple past of "sit" is "sat".
Are the past simple and past participle the same for "sit"?: Yes, for this irregular verb, both the past simple and past participle are "sat".