Originally posted by shavixmirThe first sentence can be improved by just getting rid of the word 'was'. Then it becomes 'I sat at the bar drinking a beer'
"I was sat at the pub drinking a beer."
"I was sitting at the pub drinking a beer."
[b]Why is one of the two correct and why is the other wrong?
I was using the first sentence on my blog (twice) and twice I've been brought up on it.
I don't understand what's wrong with the first sentence and I would be very grateful if someone would explain it to me.
Bowmann?[/b]
present tense, 'was sat' is mixing tenses, past tense with present tense.
1 edit
Originally posted by shavixmir1.I was seated at the bar. (Implies that a bar steward showed you to your seat.)
"I was sat at the pub drinking a beer."
"I was sitting at the pub drinking a beer."
[b]Why is one of the two correct and why is the other wrong?
I was using the first sentence on my blog (twice) and twice I've been brought up on it.
I don't understand what's wrong with the first sentence and I would be very grateful if someone would explain it to me.
Bowmann?[/b]
2. I had sat at the bar (but then something happened, quite useful to the prospective writer who wants to introduce some nervous tension.)
3. I was sitting in the bar. (Can be used to imply recent tense and also to introduce an event as per number 2)
For instance:
"Why did you not arrive at our meeting?"
"I was sitting at the bar for over an hour."
The real difference is aspect. For instance an alcoholic might say:
"I had sat at the bar, phoning my friends telling them that I love them but then my life turned around when I found Jesus."
Note the difference to:
"I sat at the bar"
or:
"I was sitting at the bar."
Originally posted by sonhouseAll this pretense is giving me a tension headache. Perhaps a seat at or near the bar would unseat the tension?
The first sentence can be improved by just getting rid of the word 'was'. Then it becomes 'I sat at the bar drinking a beer'
present tense, 'was sat' is mixing tenses, past tense with present tense.
I think it's a typically Northern English colloquialism. Personally, I think it sounds ugly. In Forest9's explanation, the form still past tense.
Incidentally, shouldn't you need 'a bit of persuasion' rather than 'persuading'? That seems to me to be the exact reverse of the original question.