ChatGPT and Language Education

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Explaining meaning in context (3)

I decided to test ChatGPT’s ability to distinguish senses of perhaps the most polysemous word in English: set. It nailed the definitions of the words in context, but, when asked, it failed to identify the usage in “settings examinations in Latin” as being primarily British.

I took all of the example sentences from an old digital edition of COBUILD English Dictionary.

Me: What does the word “set” mean in each of the following sentences?
1. There must be one set of laws for the whole of the country.
2. Graf was leading 5-1 in the first set.
3. The band continued with their set after a short break.
4. From the first moment he got on the set, he wanted to be a director too.
5. Matt looked at Hugh and saw the stubbornness in the set of his shoulders.

ChatGPT:
1. In this sentence, "set" means a group or collection of something, specifically laws in this case.
2. In this sentence, "set" refers to a unit of play in a game of tennis.
3. In this sentence, "set" refers to a performance by a band.
4. In this sentence, "set" refers to a location where a movie or television show is being filmed.
5. In this sentence, "set" is used as a noun to describe the position or arrangement of Hugh's shoulders. It implies that his shoulders are positioned in a way that indicates stubbornness or determination.

Me: How about the following?
6. Children spend so much time in front of the television set.
7. When he set his glass down he spilled a little drink.
8. The castle is set in 25 acres of beautiful grounds.
9. The man unlocked a gate set in a high wall and let me through.
10. Churchill immediately set into motion a daring plan.

ChatGPT:
6. In this sentence, "set" refers to a device that allows you to watch television.
7. In this sentence, "set" means to put something down in a particular place or position.
8. In this sentence, "set" means to place something in a particular location or surroundings.
9. In this sentence, "set" means to place or fix something in a particular position or location.
10. In this sentence, "set" means to begin to take action or to start doing something. It can also mean to cause something to happen or be put into motion.

Me: How about these?
11. I forgot to set my alarm and I overslept.
12. A date will be set for a future meeting.
13. She sets a high value on autonomy.
14. Legal experts said her case would not set a precedent because it was an out-of-court settlement.
15. He broke with the tradition of setting examinations in Latin.

ChatGPT:
11. In this sentence, "set" means to adjust or program a device, such as an alarm clock, to a particular time.
12. In this sentence, "set" means to arrange or establish a date or time for something to happen, such as a meeting.
13. In this sentence, "set" means to consider something to be of a certain value or importance.
14. In this sentence, "set" means to establish or establish as a precedent or example.
15. In this sentence, "set" means to arrange or establish something, such as an examination, in a particular way. In this case, the speaker is saying that the tradition has been broken by changing the language used for the examination from Latin to something else.

Me: How common is the meaning of "set" in sentence 15?

ChatGPT: The meaning of "set" in sentence 15, which refers to arranging or establishing something in a particular way, is a common usage of the word. It is often used in this sense to describe the establishment of a tradition, policy, or procedure. For example, you might say that a company has set certain rules for its employees, or that a school has set certain requirements for its students. In this sense, "set" can be used to describe the act of establishing or establishing something as a standard or expectation.

Me: Does “set an exam" have any special meaning or restrictions on its usage?

ChatGPT: To "set an exam" means to create or prepare an exam or examination for a group of students to take. This can involve selecting the questions or tasks that will be included on the exam, determining the format and structure of the exam, and determining the length and timing of the exam. The person or group setting the exam may also be responsible for administering the exam and grading the completed exams.

There are no specific restrictions on the usage of this phrase. It can be used in a variety of contexts, such as in a school or university setting, or in a professional or certification setting. The person or group setting the exam will typically have some level of expertise or authority in the subject matter being tested, and will use their knowledge and understanding of the material to create an exam that is fair and appropriate for the students or candidates taking it.

Me: Is it used in all dialects of English?

ChatGPT: Yes, the phrase "set an exam" is used in all dialects of English. It is a standard English phrase that is used in formal and informal contexts to describe the act of creating and preparing an exam or examination for a group of students or candidates to take. It is understood and used in all varieties of English, including British, American, Australian, and Canadian English, as well as other dialects. The phrase is also used in other English-speaking countries and regions around the world.