This is another pair of troublesome verbs.
A person, an animal, or a thing can sit. This verb is used when the person, animal, or thing can sit on their own.
Please sit in this chair.
I like to sit on the floor to watch movies.
Look at how that dog sits so patiently.
Use the verb set when someone is placing an object.
I will set the phone on the table.
Please set the groceries by the back door.
The delivery man set the package on our porch.
Do you see how the verb set transfers action to an object?
set the phone
set the groceries
set the package
Sometimes people want to say, “Set yourself down,” or “I’ll set down right here.” That is incorrect. You can sit down, but you set an object down.
Remember to use sit when the person, animal, or thing can do it on their own. Use set when an object is being placed.