1. He is sitting down in a chair and playing drums.
2. He is sitting in a chair and playing drums.
3. He is sitting down on a chair and playing drums.
4. He is sitting on a chair and playing drums.
(Which ones are grammatical? Do we have to use 'down' or not? Thank you.)
All are OK, but #1 seems best. It would berry better if "and" we're removed and a comma is placed after "chair."
All four sentences are grammatically correct, but they convey slightly different meanings. Let's break them down:
1. "He is sitting down in a chair and playing drums." In this sentence, the use of "down" emphasizes that he is lowering himself into a seated position before playing the drums.
2. "He is sitting in a chair and playing drums." This sentence is straightforward and does not imply any specific action of sitting down. It simply states that he is currently seated in a chair and playing the drums.
3. "He is sitting down on a chair and playing drums." Here, the use of both "down" and "on" emphasizes the act of lowering oneself onto the chair before playing the drums.
4. "He is sitting on a chair and playing drums." Similar to the second sentence, this sentence does not emphasize any specific action of sitting down. It states that he is sitting on a chair and playing the drums.
In summary, you can use any of the four sentences depending on the specific emphasis or level of detail you want to convey. The use of "down" is optional and adds emphasis to the act of sitting.