0
Jandi Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
Sit & sit down
Which is better, with or w/o 'down'?
1. She sat [down] at the piano, and start to play Mozart.
2. She sat [down] at the piano playing Mozart.
3. She was sitting [down] at the piano playing Mozart.
Thank you very much.
1. She sat [down] at the piano, and start to play Mozart.
2. She sat [down] at the piano playing Mozart.
3. She was sitting [down] at the piano playing Mozart.
Thank you very much.
Top answer
"down" turns a posture into the action of assuming that posture. ), then she is continuously in the sitting position, which is quite appropriate for playing that instrument, don't you think? Therefore, "playing", which says "in the act of playing" won't go with "sit down", which is the action of going from a standing to a sitting position.
- "down" turns a posture into the action of assuming that posture.
- ), then she is continuously in the sitting position, which is quite appropriate for playing that instrument, don't you think?
- Therefore, "playing", which says "in the act of playing" won't go with "sit down", which is the action of going from a standing to a sitting position.
- If she sat down playing Mozart, then she was already playing Mozart while standing and, still while playing, she went into a sitting position.
- Sounds rather uncomfortable, doesn't it?
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
5 Answers
0
"down" turns a posture into the action of assuming that posture.
If she is playing the piano (particularly Mozart - good choice!), then she is continuously in the sitting position, which is quite appropriate for playing that instrument, don't you think?
If she is playing the piano (particularly Mozart - good choice!), then she is continuously in the sitting position, which is quite appropriate for playing that instrument, don't you think?
00
I think now it's clear. 
^^
Just for confirmation.
1. He was sitting down all morning.
2. He sat down all morning
^^Just for confirmation.
1. He was sitting down all morning.
2. He sat down all morning
00
Maybe I didn't catch all the possible cases, because they both sound fine!
In the original, it was the use of the participle "playing" which conflicted with "sat down". Once you remove the implication that something was done "(while) playing Mozart", the objection to "sat down" goes away.
On the other hand, personally I prefer both of your sentences without the "down". A very nat
In the original, it was the use of the participle "playing" which conflicted with "sat down". Once you remove the implication that something was done "(while) playing Mozart", the objection to "sat down" goes away.
On the other hand, personally I prefer both of your sentences without the "down". A very nat
00
0
Related Questions