What Does “Set sth aside” Mean?
“Set sth aside” means to save or keep something for a specific purpose or to ignore something temporarily.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “set sth aside” is commonly used in English to describe putting something away for later use or temporarily ignoring an issue. Understanding the “set sth aside meaning” helps learners use it accurately in both formal and informal contexts. Whether it’s setting money aside for savings or setting aside time to focus on a task, this phrase is versatile and useful. This article explains how to use “set sth aside,” provides examples, and highlights common mistakes to avoid.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: set something aside
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2
- Meaning: to save or keep something for later or to temporarily ignore something
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Set sth aside” is a separable phrasal verb. You can place the object between “set” and “aside” or after the entire phrase.
- set + object + aside (e.g., set money aside)
- set aside + object (e.g., set aside money)
Both forms are correct and commonly used.
How to Use Set sth aside?
Use “set sth aside” when you want to express that something is reserved or saved for a later time. It can refer to physical items, money, time, or even feelings and opinions that you decide to ignore temporarily.
Examples of contexts include:
- Financial savings
- Reserving time for tasks
- Ignoring arguments or problems temporarily
Examples
Imagine you want to save money for a trip. You might say:
- I set some money aside every month for my vacation.
- She set aside her differences and agreed to work with him.
- They set aside an hour each day to study English.
- We should set aside the budget for emergencies.
- He set aside his personal feelings to focus on the project.
These examples show how “set sth aside in a sentence” works naturally.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes learners confuse the phrase structure or use it incorrectly.
- Incorrect: I set aside money every month it.
- Correct: I set money aside every month.
- Incorrect: She set aside to ignore the problem.
- Correct: She set aside the problem to focus on work.
Remember to always include the object being set aside for clarity.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include:
- Put aside: Also means to save or ignore, but slightly less formal.
- Save up: Usually refers specifically to money saved over time.
- Set apart: Means to make something different or special, not the same as setting aside.
“Set sth aside” often implies a temporary action, especially when referring to ignoring issues, unlike “save up” which is more permanent.
Common Collocations
Here are common objects used with “set aside”:
- Money – to save funds
- Time – to reserve time for something
- Differences – to ignore disagreements temporarily
- Resources – to keep materials for future use
- Feelings – to ignore emotions in a situation
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of set sth aside:
Real-life Dialogue
In a work setting:
Anna: We have a lot of tasks today. Should we set some aside for tomorrow?
Mark: Yes, let’s set aside the less urgent ones and focus on the priority tasks.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
- A) I set aside some money for my new laptop.
- B) I set some aside money for my new laptop.
- C) I set some money aside for my new laptop.
Correct answers: A and C
FAQ
- What does “set sth aside” mean? It means to save or keep something for later or temporarily ignore something.
- Is “set sth aside” separable? Yes, you can place the object between “set” and “aside” or after the phrase.
- Can I use “set aside” for time? Yes, it means to reserve or save time for something.
- Is “set aside” the same as “put aside”? They are similar, but “put aside” is less formal and often interchangeable.
- Can I use “set aside” when ignoring feelings? Yes, it can mean temporarily ignoring emotions or opinions.
