Set aside means to reserve something, especially time or money, for a particular purpose.

The idea

In neutral everyday and formal English, a noun can follow aside or come between the two words: set aside money or set money aside. An object pronoun must come between them: set it aside. The past form is set.

Examples

  • We set aside money for a new roof.
  • The library sets aside funds for new books.
  • I set an hour aside for reading each evening.
  • They set it aside for emergency repairs.
  • The club is setting aside a little cash for travel.
  • Please set aside ten minutes for questions.

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Watch out

Do not say set aside it: put the pronoun before aside. The past is set, not setted.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct option. She sets ___ an hour for exercise. (aside / out)

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    aside

    aside completes the expression for reserving an hour.

  2. Choose the correct option. The savings are for travel; set ___. (them aside / aside them)

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    them aside

    them aside places the pronoun between the verb and particle.

  3. Choose the correct option. Yesterday we ___ aside funds for repairs. (set / setted)

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    set

    set is unchanged in the past and fits yesterday.

Use it today

Write a sentence about time and another about money reserved for a purpose.