The verb to sit · Conjugation
Past Simple of sit
The answer: sat
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to sit is sat.
Example: I sat next to my friend.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | sat |
| You | sat |
| He / She / It | sat |
| We | sat |
| You (pl.) | sat |
| They | sat |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Sited ❌
Sit is an irregular verb. Its Past Simple is sat, never sited.
2. Sit or sit down?
Sit = to be in a chair, or to move into it (it depends on the sentence). Sit down = the action of moving into a chair. Sit down, please!
3. Siting ❌
Short verb + short vowel → double the consonant before -ing: sitting.
Practice quiz
Going further
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of sit?+
The Past Simple of sit is sat, the same for every person. The past participle is also sat.
Sit or sit down: what is the difference?+
Sit = to be in a chair (a state). Sit down = to move into a chair (an action). Sit down, please! She sat by the window can mean that she was in a chair there, or that she moved into a chair there.
Why is it sitting with two t's?+
Short verb + short vowel → double the consonant before -ing: sit → sitting. It is the same for run → running.
Is it didn't sit or didn't sat?+
Say didn't sit: I didn't sit down. After didn't, use the base form → sit.
Is sited a word?+
Yes, but not as the past of sit. The Past Simple of sit is sat. Sited comes from another verb, site (to put a building in a particular place).
Related pages: sit Past Simple
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/sit/past-simple
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.
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More forms of the verb to sit are coming soon.