Contact Information

This site uses the
Oxford English dictionary spelling

The Writing Centre

Moriset Hall
Room 0036 Ottawa, ON
Canada K1N 6N5

No telephone writing help available
Tel.: 613 562-5800 ext. 2267

No online writing help available
E-mail:
writcent@uOttawa.ca

 

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Question:
The leftover casserole has been setting in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks.
Answer:
The answer This compound verb is correctly formed. is not correct.
Explanation:
The compound verb "has been setting" is transitive, but the sentence describes the position of the casserole, not the act of placing it somewhere. The correct form is "has been sitting."
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Last updated: 2007.08.16