Irregular verbs Regular verbs
run, runs, running, ran
Synonyms: race, sprint, dash, hurry, manage
Antonyms: walk, stop, stand, halt, rest
The Verb Run – Definition, Usage, and Clarification The verb run is an extremely common and versatile irregular verb. Its core meaning is to move with your legs at a pace faster than walking. However, it has dozens of other meanings related to operating, flowing, managing, and continuing. VERB FORMS ■ Base Form: run ■ Past Simple: ran ■ Past Participle: run ■ Present Participle/Gerund: running USAGE AND CONTEXT 'Run' is one of the most adaptable verbs in English. 1. Moving on Foot This is its primary, literal meaning. ■ Exercise/Sport: 'I run five kilometers every morning.' 2. Operating or Managing This refers to making a machine, system, or business function. ■ Business: 'She runs her own company.' ■ Machinery: 'Is it okay to leave the engine running?' ■ Software: 'What operating system does your computer run?' 3. Flowing or Spreading This applies to liquids, colors, and other flowing things. ■ Liquids: 'Tears ran down her cheeks.' ■ Colors: 'The colors in my new shirt ran when I washed it.' 4. Continuing for a Period This describes the duration of an event or state. ■ Events: 'The festival will run for three days.' ■ Family: 'Musical talent runs in her family.' ℹ IMPORTANT: PHRASAL VERBS AND PAST PARTICIPLE ■ Past Participle Form: A very common grammatical error is to use 'ran' as the past participle. The correct form is run. ■ Correct: 'I have run out of milk.' ■ Incorrect: 'I have ran out of milk.' ■ Phrasal Verbs: The meaning of 'run' changes dramatically in phrasal verbs. Some common examples include: ■ Run into: To meet someone by chance. ■ Run out of: To use up your supply of something. ■ Run over: To hit something with a vehicle. ■ Run away: To escape or leave a place. ■ Run for: To campaign for a political office.
RUN - PRESENT SIMPLE | |
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★ I | run |
★ you | run |
★ he/she/it | runs |
★ we | run |
★ you (plural) | run |
★ they | run |
Examples of the verb 'run' in the Present Simple |
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- I run five kilometers every morning. |
- You run a tight ship at work. |
- He runs a successful restaurant. | The river runs through the city. |
- We run a small family business. |
- You (plural) run the risk of failing if you don't prepare. |
- They run marathons for charity. |
RUN - PRESENT CONTINUOUS | |
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★ I am | running |
★ you are | running |
★ he/she/it is | running |
★ we are | running |
★ you are | running |
★ they are | running |
Examples of the verb 'run' in the Present Continuous |
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- I am running late for my appointment. |
- You are running a fever. |
- He is running for mayor. | The engine is running smoothly. |
- We are running out of time. |
- You (plural) are running the new software update. |
- They are running a special promotion this week. |
RUN - PRESENT PERFECT | |
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★ I have | run |
★ you have | run |
★ he/she/it has | run |
★ we have | run |
★ you have | run |
★ they have | run |
Examples of the verb 'run' in the Present Perfect |
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- I have run a marathon twice in my life. |
- You have run this program before. |
- He has run into some trouble. | She has run the company for twenty years. |
- We have run out of milk; I need to go to the store. |
- You (plural) have run a good race. |
- They have run the tests and are waiting for the results. |
RUN - PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS | |
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★ I have been | running |
★ you have been | running |
★ he/she/it has been | running |
★ we have been | running |
★ you have been | running |
★ they have been | running |
Examples of the verb 'run' in the Present Perfect Continuous |
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- I have been running this shop for ten years. |
- You have been running on empty all week; you need to rest. |
- He has been running the department since last year. | The faucet has been running all day. |
- We have been running this campaign for months. |
- You (plural) have been running tests on the system. |
- They have been running from their problems. |
RUN - PAST SIMPLE | |
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★ I | ran |
★ you | ran |
★ he/she/it | ran |
★ we | ran |
★ you (plural) | ran |
★ they | ran |
Examples of the verb 'run' in the Past Simple |
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- I ran to catch the bus this morning. |
- You ran a red light. |
- He ran a great campaign, even though he lost. | She ran a bath for the children. |
- We ran into our old teacher at the supermarket. |
- You (plural) ran the company while the boss was away. |
- They ran out of the burning building. |
RUN - PAST CONTINUOUS | |
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★ I was | running |
★ you were | running |
★ he/she/it was | running |
★ we were | running |
★ you were | running |
★ they were | running |
Examples of the verb 'run' in the Past Continuous |
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- I was running in the park when I twisted my ankle. |
- You were running a background check on the new employee. |
- He was running a high fever, so we took him to the hospital. | The car's engine was running. |
- We were running late for the wedding. |
- You (plural) were running a test on the new software. |
- They were running towards the finish line. |
RUN - PAST PERFECT | |
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★ I had | run |
★ you had | run |
★ he/she/it had | run |
★ we had | run |
★ you had | run |
★ they had | run |
Examples of the verb 'run' in the Past Perfect |
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- I had run out of ideas long before the final deadline. |
- You had run the same play twice. |
- She had run the company for 20 years before she finally retired. | The computer had run a diagnostic check. |
- We had run five miles before we stopped for water. |
- You (plural) had run the simulation. |
- They had run out of food and water. |
RUN - PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS | |
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★ I had been | running |
★ you had been | running |
★ he/she/it had been | running |
★ we had been | running |
★ you had been | running |
★ they had been | running |
Examples of the verb 'run' in the Past Perfect Continuous |
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- I had been running the café for a year before I sold it. |
- You had been running from the police for weeks. |
- He had been running the business at a loss for years. | The tap had been running for hours. |
- We had been running the project without proper funding. |
- You (plural) had been running the tests all night. |
- They had been running on fumes for the last part of the journey. |
RUN - FUTURE SIMPLE | |
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★ I will | run |
★ you will | run |
★ he/she/it will | run |
★ we will | run |
★ you will | run |
★ they will | run |
Examples of the verb 'run' in the Future Simple |
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- I will run for president of the student club. |
- You will run into problems if you don't follow the instructions. |
- He will run the shop while I am on vacation. | The water will run out if we don't fix the leak. |
- We will run the simulation tomorrow. |
- You (plural) will run the risk of getting caught. |
- They will run in the next election. |
RUN - FUTURE CONTINUOUS | |
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★ I will be | running |
★ you will be | running |
★ he/she/it will be | running |
★ we will be | running |
★ you will be | running |
★ they will be | running |
Examples of the verb 'run' in the Future Continuous |
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- I will be running the London Marathon next year. |
- You will be running the presentation on Tuesday. |
- He will be running the meeting in my absence. | The refrigerator will be running all night. |
- We will be running a series of tests on the new prototype. |
- You (plural) will be running the workshop for the new employees. |
- They will be running for the train. |
RUN - FUTURE PERFECT | |
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★ I will have | run |
★ you will have | run |
★ he/she/it will have | run |
★ we will have | run |
★ you will have | run |
★ they will have | run |
Examples of the verb 'run' in the Future Perfect |
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- I will have run 20 kilometers by the time I finish my training today. |
- You will have run out of patience by then. |
- He will have run the company for a decade by next May. | The battery will have run down. |
- We will have run all the necessary checks by the end of the day. |
- You (plural) will have run the course. |
- They will have run out of options. |
RUN - FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS | |
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★ I will have been | running |
★ you will have been | running |
★ he/she/it will have been | running |
★ we will have been | running |
★ you will have been | running |
★ they will have been | running |
Examples of the verb 'run' in the Future Perfect Continuous |
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- By the end of the day, I will have been running errands for six hours straight. |
- You will have been running the business for 25 years by your retirement. |
- He will have been running for office for a full year by election day. | The engine will have been running for a long time. |
- We will have been running this program for its entire lifecycle. |
- You (plural) will have been running the tests for 48 hours. |
- They will have been running the restaurant for a generation. |