Postby YtownPolyglot » Wed Dec 14, 2016 8:21 pm
WalkingAlone13 wrote:Serpent wrote:Yes! I'm glad you know what I'm talking about
Any idea why it's used like that? Is "I sit/I'm sitting" seen as too formal?
I do think a level of formality is involved here. For example, if I got up to pop to the loo quickly on the train, and upon my return noticed someone about to take my seat (let's assume my belongings were there - perhaps I'm in Finland
) provided the person was around my age, I am likely to say: "Oh, excuse me, I'm sat there". Whereas if the person was perhaps middle aged, I would be more likely to say something like: " Excuse me, I'm sitting there."
Same if I am at university and a friend text me to ask where to look for me in the lecture hall. I would more than likely reply with "I'm sat by the window". Whereas if the professor for some reason wanted to know the same thing, I would reply with "I'm sitting by the window".
Judging by the replies, it would appear this is different for everyone. I am from the South East of England, however, and I think I read someone from up North has the same/similar usage which makes me think it might not be entirely regional.
In Canadian and US English, we are more likely to use some sort of construction with "seated" or "sitting."
For example: Excuse me, I was sitting there. (Please don't sit where I left my newspaper.)
The waiter will seat you when a table is available.
I'm sitting next to a redhead. (Neither formal nor informal; it's just that it would never occur to many of us to say it any other way.)
2 x
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