Set off and set on?

[Andrea]

Test No. incompl/inter-85 "Simple Present (2)", question 8

It was late April and the sun had disappeared behind dark heavy rain clouds but Andrew had already set ......... for the local pub.

(a) up
(b) off
(c) to
(d) by

Test No. incompl/inter-85 "Simple Present (2)", answer 8

It was late April and the sun had disappeared behind dark heavy rain clouds but Andrew had already set off for the local pub.

Correct answer: (b) off

Your answer was: incorrect
It was late April and the sun had disappeared behind dark heavy rain clouds but Andrew had already set by for the local pub.
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i would like to know the meaning of set of, set on, and set by

thanks

[Alan]

Set off is start a journey
Set on is attack
Set by is not really a so-called phrasal verb as the other two are and would be used as a simple passive: The questions were set BY the examiner
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Saneta]

1.set off for the local pub= start a journey to the local pub?
2. is it possible to change Past Perfect to Past Simple in the sentence and why not or why so?:
It was late April and the sun disappeared behind dark heavy rain clouds but Andrew already set off for the local pub.

many thanks

[Beeesneees]

1. yes
2. no, you cannot use 'but Andrew already set off'. You have to use 'had' because of the usage of 'already'. It sounds nonsensical pairing the two.
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Cheers m' dears!

[Saneta]

1.what is nonsensical to pair the two? which two words?
2. but: the sun had disappeared can I write: the sun disappeared ?

thank you!

[Beeesneees]

1. 'already' and 'had' - the two words I mentioned in my answer.

2. Yes, you can write 'the sun disappeared' -- if the intention is to give the idea that it was doing so at that moment.
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Cheers m' dears!

[Saneta]

Hi Beees.,
If it should be: ,...but Andrew had already set off for the local pub', so why are you writing:,It sounds nonsensical pairing the two', because 'had' is with 'already'?

many thanks

[Beeesneees]

Sorry - I meant it's nonsensical pairing 'already' and the past simple tense 'set off' in that sentence.
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Cheers m' dears!

[Saneta]

ok. thanks.