sat at/in front of

Would you say "sat at my PC all day" or "sat in front of my PC all day"?

Why do you say "sat in front of the TV" and not "sat at the TV"?

How and when should I use "sat at" and "sat in front" of?

Did you mean?

How and when should I use "sat at" and "sat in front of"?

Yes. Wasn't that obvious?

SAT BY MY PC

I am not sat by my PC 24 hours a day.

Sat by your PC waiting for what?

I'd say either "sit at" or "sit in front of". I think I prefer "at". I wouldn't "sit by" my PC, or be "sat by it", unless I were to its side rather than in front of it, or if I were in front of it but not facing it.

I think "sit at the TV" is perfectly possible, though it's perhaps less common. I'm not sure why I'm less likely to say "at the TV" than "at my PC"...

- Kef

< I wouldn't "sit by" my PC, or be "sat by it", unless I were to its side rather than in front of it, or if I were in front of it but not facing. >

Not even if you were waiting for a message, an e-mail, or something?

standing by
sitting by

Hmm... probably not me, but other speakers might say that.

I would say I sat "by" my PC if I were close to it but not using it. If I were using it, I would say that I sat "at" it.

<Hmm... probably not me, but other speakers might say that. >

Could you be found saying "I say by the telephone all night hoping she/he would call"?

So, doesn't anyone here use "sat by" meaning waiting or making a vigil?

<< Could you be found saying "I say by the telephone all night hoping she/he would call"? >>

Sure.

I guess the main reason I wouldn't use that expression with a computer is because sitting idly by a computer isn't something I would do -- there's always so much to do on them! -- so I'm not used to thinking about a computer in those terms.

- Kef

Nowadays, it would be quite normal to say "I sat by the PC all day waiting for her call" - voice over IP and all that being the fashion for many.

You need to catch up, Kef.