Set or setted? What’s the past tense of set?
First, let’s clarify which form of the word set is under discussion. The word set can be both a verb and a noun. As a noun, set is a countable noun that refers to “A set of things is a number of things that belong together or that are thought of as a group.” An example of set in this context is “I need a spare set of clothes”, or, “do you have a spare set of pyjamas I could borrow?’ In this context, set does not use a tense since it is a noun.
Forms of the verb set
A separate use of the word set is as a verb. Here set is understood as, “to put (something or someone) in a particular place: to set a vase on a table; to place in a particular position or posture: He set the baby on his feet”. (as defined by dictionary.com).
| present | past | future | |
| simple | I set | I set | I will set |
| continuous | I am setting | I was setting | I will be setting |
| perfect | I have set | I had set | I will have set |
| perfect continuous | I have been setting | I had been setting | I will have been setting |
1. Set is in the present tense: We set a date for the wedding!
2. Set is the past tense: She set a new world record for the high jump.
3. Set is also the past participle form of the verb: The table had been set for 6 guests.
4. Setting is the present participle: We are setting up the room for the party.
5. Sets is the third-person singular: She sets the table with extreme fastidiousness.
Other irregular verbs with one present and past form
| base verb | past tense | past participle |
| cut | cut | cut |
| burst | burst | burst |
| bet | bet | bet |
| shut | shut | sunk |
| hit | hit | hit |
| set | set | set |
| spread | spread | spread |
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.
“Set”, in the past/present tense (in sentences)
| Examples: set, present tenses |
|---|
| The sun sets early in the winter. She carefully set the vase on the table. 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. |
| Examples: set, past tenses |
|---|
| She set the camera on automatic. It is illegal to set fire to the forest. We finally set a date for the wedding! Samuel set his drink down on the counter. The table had been set for 6 guests. The government has set a growth target of 6%. I’ve set myself to finish the job by the end of the month. |
Synonyms of 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”
Other commonly confused verb tenses
- What’s the past tense of spread?
- What’s the past tense of lead?
- What’s the past tense of lay?
- What’s the past tense of choose?
- What’s the past tense of eat?
Learn more about verbs
- What are regular and irregular verbs?
- Transitive and intransitive verbs?
- What are verbs?
- Past tense of spread?
- What’re personal pronouns?
- What’s the difference between they’re, their, and there?
- Whose vs who’s?
Sources
- Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of set.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/set. Accessed 21 February, 2023.
- Collins English Dictionary. COMPLETE & UNABRIDGED 2012 DIGITAL EDITION © WILLIAM COLLINS SONS & CO. LTD. 1979, 1986 © HARPERCOLLINS
