Set past tense

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Learn past tenses to communicate in English accurately

Meaning of set

to put or place in a specific position or location.

Infinitive

Word: set /sɛt/
Examples:
  • 1. Every morning, I set my alarm for 6 am to start my day early.
  • 2. She sets the table beautifully for dinner every night.
  • 3. He sets aside a few hours each week to practice his guitar.

Past Simple

Word: set /set/
Examples:
  • 1. She set the book down on the table before leaving the room.
  • 2. They set the alarm for 6 a.m. but still woke up late.
  • 3. He set a new personal record at the track meet yesterday.

Past Participle

Word: set /sɛt/
Examples:
  • 1. The table was set by the staff early in the morning for the event.
  • 2. The rules have been set by the committee for the upcoming competition.
  • 3. His fate was set the moment he made that choice.

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Bare infinitive

  1. Routine or Habitual Actions
    Example. I set my alarm for 6 AM every day.
    Example. The meeting sets at 3 PM tomorrow.
  2. Scheduled Events in the Near Future (especially in timetables or programs)
    Example. I set my alarm for 6 AM every day.
    Example. The meeting sets at 3 PM tomorrow.

Past Simple

  1. Completed Actions at a Specific Time in the Past
    Example. He set the table for dinner last night.
    Example. I finished my homework, set my books away, and went to bed early.
    Example. When I was a child, I set my toys neatly on the shelf every evening.
  2. Actions in a Sequence in the Past
    Example. He set the table for dinner last night.
    Example. I finished my homework, set my books away, and went to bed early.
    Example. When I was a child, I set my toys neatly on the shelf every evening.
  3. Past Habits or States
    Example. He set the table for dinner last night.
    Example. I finished my homework, set my books away, and went to bed early.
    Example. When I was a child, I set my toys neatly on the shelf every evening.

Past Participle

  1. The word 'set' is one of those unique verbs in English where the base form, the past simple, and the past participle all have the same spelling. However, in terms of usage, the past participle is used in the following ways.
    Example. I have already set the table.
    Example. By the time they arrived, she had set everything up.
    Example. By next year, they will have set a new precedent.
    Example. The rules were set by the committee earlier this year.
    Example. If he had studied harder, he might have set a new record.
  2. Perfect Tenses.
    Example. I have already set the table.
    Example. By the time they arrived, she had set everything up.
    Example. By next year, they will have set a new precedent.
    Example. The rules were set by the committee earlier this year.
    Example. If he had studied harder, he might have set a new record.
  3. Present Perfect for actions completed at an unspecified time in the past or that have relevance to the present.
    Example. I have already set the table.
    Example. By the time they arrived, she had set everything up.
    Example. By next year, they will have set a new precedent.
    Example. The rules were set by the committee earlier this year.
    Example. If he had studied harder, he might have set a new record.
  4. Past Perfect for actions completed before another action in the past.
    Example. I have already set the table.
    Example. By the time they arrived, she had set everything up.
    Example. By next year, they will have set a new precedent.
    Example. The rules were set by the committee earlier this year.
    Example. If he had studied harder, he might have set a new record.
  5. Future Perfect for actions that will be completed before a specified future time.
    Example. I have already set the table.
    Example. By the time they arrived, she had set everything up.
    Example. By next year, they will have set a new precedent.
    Example. The rules were set by the committee earlier this year.
    Example. If he had studied harder, he might have set a new record.
  6. Passive Voice to indicate an action done to the subject.
    Example. I have already set the table.
    Example. By the time they arrived, she had set everything up.
    Example. By next year, they will have set a new precedent.
    Example. The rules were set by the committee earlier this year.
    Example. If he had studied harder, he might have set a new record.
  7. Conditional Sentences Used in the conditional perfect form.
    Example. I have already set the table.
    Example. By the time they arrived, she had set everything up.
    Example. By next year, they will have set a new precedent.
    Example. The rules were set by the committee earlier this year.
    Example. If he had studied harder, he might have set a new record.

Common mistakes

— 01

Confusing forms

One common mistake is assuming that the word 'set' changes form in its past simple and past participle forms. Unlike many other verbs in English, 'set' remains the same in its base, past simple, and past participle forms. For example, it is incorrect to say 'I had setted the table' or 'I setted the alarm.' The correct usage is 'I set the table' for the past simple and 'I have set the alarm' for the past participle.

— 02

Misuse in Perfect Tense Constructions

Another mistake involves using 'set' incorrectly in perfect tense constructions, such as present perfect, past perfect, and future perfect tenses, due to confusion with its past participle form. Some might mistakenly alter the form of 'set' thinking it needs to change to fit the tense. For instance, saying 'I have sett the clock' instead of the correct 'I have set the clock' demonstrates a misunderstanding of how 'set' functions as both the past simple and past participle form.

— 03

Incorrect Inflection

A less common but notable mistake is attempting to inflect 'set' for emphasis or to denote habitual action in the past, which can happen with verbs that have distinct past simple and past participle forms. For example, saying 'I used to setted the table every evening' to emphasize a regular past action is incorrect. The correct form is 'I used to set the table every evening.' This mistake stems from misunderstanding that 'set' does not change form and that emphasis or habitual action in the past is conveyed through context or auxiliary verbs, not through altering the verb 'set' itself.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the past simple form of 'set'?

The past simple form of 'set' remains 'set.' Unlike many other verbs in English, 'set' does not change its form when used in the past tense. For example, 'Yesterday, I set the table for dinner.'

What is the past participle form of 'set'?

Just like its past simple form, the past participle form of 'set' is also 'set.' This means that when using 'set' in perfect tenses or passive voice, it remains unchanged. For instance, 'I have already set the alarm for 7 AM.'

How do I use 'set' in a sentence to indicate past action?

When using 'set' to indicate a past action, you simply use 'set' as you would in the present tense, because its form does not change. Context will determine the tense. For example. Past Simple. 'Last week, I set a new personal record in running.' Present Perfect. 'I have set aside some money for our trip.'

Can you give examples of 'set' used in different past tense sentences?

Past Simple. 'He set the book on the shelf after reading it.' Past Continuous. 'While she was setting the table, the phone rang.' Past Perfect. 'By the time we arrived, they had already set the stage for the play.' Past Perfect Continuous. 'She had been setting up the exhibition for hours before it opened.' Remember, the form of 'set' remains the same across these tenses, but the helping verbs change to indicate the specific tense being used.