What's the past tense of "set"?
The simple past tense of set is set, and the past participle is also set. The form "setted" is incorrect. Use set for both simple past and past participle forms.
Definition of set
The Oxford English Dictionary defines set as "to put (something or someone) in a particular place." It's used to describe placing, positioning, or establishing something in a specific location or state.
- The past tense of set is set.
- The past participle of set is set.
Verb forms of 'set'
Sentence examples: set, set, set
• We set a date for the wedding!
• She sets the table with extreme fastidiousness.
• Have you set the alarm clock?
• She set a new world record for the high jump.
• Samuel set his drink down on the counter.
• We finally set a date for the wedding!
• The table had been set for 6 guests.
• The company has set a new sales target.
• We are setting up the room for the party.
Similar irregular verbs
Simple past vs. participle of “set”
Compare these sentences:
| 1. It took us half an hour to set up the tent. (simple past) |
| 2. Someone had set this table without the proper utensils. (past perfect tense) |
Since set is an irregular verb with one past verb form; this makes it trickier than other verbs in identifying its past participle vs. past tense forms. The way to discern whether it’s the past participle or the simple past is to check for any auxiliary or helper verbs; which, in the second sentence, there’s the auxiliary had. This pairing of the auxiliary had with the past participle forms the past perfect tense in English. This is how we tell the difference between the simple past verb conjugation and the past participle verb form.
Generally speaking, we would use the past perfect tense when we want to add emphasis to the correct order in which events from the place took place. To write in the present perfect tense, we would pair have or has with the past participle form, i.e., set.
Think of “set” like “cut” or “put”; the past tense form is the same: set.
Set in the past and present tense (in sentences)
| Verb conjugation | Examples |
|---|---|
| set (present) |
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
Have you set the alarm clock? He set the record into the record player. |
| set (past) |
We finally set a date for the wedding!
Samuel set his drink down on the counter. The table had been set for 6 guests. |
| Word | Similar words |
|---|---|
| set | position, locate, situate, plant, posture, choose, establish, determine, appoint, designate, arrange, assign |
Origin of the verb set
From etymology online on set (v.):
Middle English setten, from Old English settan (transitive) “cause to sit; make or cause to rest as on a seat; cause to be put, placed, or seated;” also “put in a definite place,” also “arrange, fix adjust; fix or appoint (a time) for some affair or transaction,” and “cause (thoughts, affections) to dwell on.” This is from Proto-Germanic *(bi)satejanan “to cause to sit, set”
Worksheet
Yesterday, I ______ the table for dinner.
She has already ______ her alarm for 6:00 a.m.
The sun ______ at 8:30 p.m. last night.
By the time we arrived, the stage had already been ______ for the concert.
I will ______ a reminder to call you tomorrow.
.webp&w=3840&q=75)
