Word use question...

[fajrdrako]

When I read Torchwood: Almost Perfect by James Goss, I noticed that he had a way of using the verb 'to sit' that was new to me. Instead of saying "he sat" or "he was sitting" or even "he sat down", he'd say, "he was sat". Sounds passive to me, but clearly wasn't meant to be. There was no agent but the subject doing the sitting.

I've noticed this several times since, always in a British context. Just now I heard someone say, "you must have been sat in the row behind me" instead of (as I would say) "you must have sat".

Could someone explain to me how this works? Is it a new British expression?

Comments

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Ah, thank you. If I've heard it before, I never noticed. Not even when I lived there... but I'm sure there's a lot I missed, or have forgotten.

Does "he was sat" mean the same as "he sat"?

[trialia]

It's pretty commonly used still; isn't new. I've heard my dad say it, often and oft.

No... "he was sat" means "he was sitting", usually present tense third person.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Okay, I'll try to remember that.

[trialia]

Not a problem. :)