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Mr. Tom Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

The young child sat next to me couldn't stop laughing.

Hi

I just read that the following sentence is natural in British English. Is it really true?

The young child sat next to me couldn't stop laughing.

Shouldn't it be:

The young child sitting next to me couldn't stop laughing.

Thanks,

Tom
  

Top answer

Yes. If you include the verb, it should be 'sitting'. You could also leave it out.

— Philip

  • Yes.
  • If you include the verb, it should be 'sitting'.
  • You could also leave it out.
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2 Answers
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Yes. If you include the verb, it should be 'sitting'. You could also leave it out.
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This kind of substitution of "sat" for "sitting" (and similarly with "stood" for "standing") is common in informal speech amongst some BrE speakers. Purists would no doubt deem it substandard, and it's not appropriate in formal language. I personally find it tolerable in conversation, and I think I may even on occasion lapse into it myself ("I was sat on the bus when...").

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