How past tense of run Changes in the Past and Past Participle

English grammar can sometimes be tricky, especially when dealing with irregular verbs like “run”. You may be familiar with regular verbs where we add “-ed” to create the past tense, like “walk” becomes “walked”. However, with irregular verbs, the situation is a bit different.

In this article, we’ll dive deep into the past tense of run and the past participle of run. I’ll also explain how to use run and ran in different tenses to help you master these confusing forms. Let’s get started!

What is the Past Tense of “Run”?

The simple past tense of run is “ran”. This form is used when we talk about something that happened and was completed in the past.

Subject	Past Tense
I	ran
You	ran
He/She/It	ran
We	ran
They	ran

Examples of “Ran” in the Past Tense:

• I ran to the store yesterday.
• She ran to catch the bus.
• They ran a race last weekend.

As you can see, “ran” works the same way no matter who or what the subject is whether it’s “I”, “he”, “they”, or “we”, the verb remains “ran” in the simple past tense.

Common Mistakes in Using “Ran”

One of the most common grammar mistakes people make is confusing “ran” and “run” in perfect tenses. Some might say, “I have ran,” but this is incorrect. The correct form is “I have run.”

Correct: I have run three miles today.
Incorrect: I have ran three miles today.

The difference here is crucial when using perfect tenses. In perfect tenses, “run” is the right form to use, not “ran”.

READ MORE: What is the Past Tense of Swing? Is it Swing, Swang, or Swung?

What is the Past Participle of “Run”?

The past participle of run is “run”. Unlike regular verbs, where the past and past participle are the same (like “walk” and “walked”), the verb run changes form.

Examples of “Run” in the Past Participle:

• She has run a marathon.
• They have run out of time.
• I had run five miles before it started raining.

In these examples, run is used with helping verbs like “have” or “had” to create perfect tenses. The run past participle is always “run”, no matter the tense.

Run in Different Tenses

Let’s explore how the verb run works across different tenses to avoid grammar errors.

Present Tense:

In the present tense, the base form run is used.

• I run every morning.
• They run on weekends.
• She runs (note the “s” for third-person singular) fast.

Present Continuous Tense:

For actions happening right now, use run in the present continuous tense:

• I am running to the store.
• They are running a race.

Simple Past Tense:

We already know that the simple past tense of run is “ran”. This is used for actions that happened in the past.

• He ran to the bus stop.
• We ran out of time.

Past Perfect Tense:

The past perfect tense is used when one past action happened before another. You’ll use run as the past participle.

• By the time you called, I had run home.
• She had run all the way to the store.

Future Tense:

In the future tense, we use “will run”.

• I will run a race next month.
• We will run the experiment tomorrow.

Future Perfect Tense:

To talk about something that will be completed before a future time, we use “will have run”.

• By next week, I will have run 20 miles.
• They will have run out of supplies by noon.

Ran vs. Run: What’s the Difference?

One of the most confusing aspects of English grammar is the difference between ran and run. Here’s a quick breakdown:

• “Ran” is the simple past tense of run. Use it for actions completed in the past.
• “Run” is the past participle used in perfect tenses with helping verbs like “have”, “has”, or “had”.

Quick Comparison:

Tense	Correct Form
Simple past tense	Ran
Present perfect tense	Run
Past perfect tense	Run
Future perfect tense	Run

Troubleshooting Common Errors with “Run”

When it comes to verb conjugation of run, the most common mistakes arise from mixing up run and ran. Here are a few examples of grammar mistakes and how to correct them.

Incorrect: I have ran to the store.
Correct: I have run to the store.

Incorrect: She had ran five miles before breakfast.
Correct: She had run five miles before breakfast.

Conditional Sentences Using Run

In conditional sentences, we use run in the perfect tenses to describe hypothetical situations.

• If I had run faster, I would have caught the train.
• If they had run earlier, they might have arrived on time.

These sentences use the past perfect tense of run to talk about actions that didn’t happen but could have under different conditions.

How to Use “Run” and “Ran” in Different Contexts

Now that we understand the simple past tense of run and the run past participle, let’s look at how to use run and ran in different contexts.

Everyday Scenarios:

• Past Tense of Run: Yesterday, I ran into my friend at the park.
• Run Past Participle: They have run the business for years.

Sports and Fitness:

• Simple Past Tense: He ran in the marathon last Sunday.
• Past Participle: I have run every morning for a month.

Work and School:

• Simple Past Tense: We ran the meeting efficiently yesterday.
• Past Participle: They have run several tests on the new software.

Regular vs. Irregular Verbs

Understanding irregular verbs like run helps you navigate English grammar rules. Regular verbs, like walk, simply add “-ed” in the past. Irregular verbs like run don’t follow this pattern, which makes them harder to remember. But with practice, you’ll master these differences.

Common Verb Mistakes with “Run”

Here are some common mistakes people make when using run and ran:

• Mistake: “I have ran.”
  Fix: “I have run.”
• Mistake: “She had ran.”
  Fix: “She had run.”

Run Verb Changes in Perfect Tenses

Let’s review how the verb run changes in perfect tenses. In present perfect tense, we use “have run” for actions completed before now.

• Present Perfect Tense: I have run three times this week.
• Past Perfect Tense: They had run by the time it started raining.
• Future Perfect Tense: By tomorrow, she will have run ten miles.

ALSO READ: Pre vs Post: Which Prefix to Use?

Conclusion

Mastering the verb run and its different forms can be challenging, but it’s essential for improving your English grammar. Remember, the simple past tense of run is always “ran”, and the run past participle is “run”. This is especially important in perfect tenses where “run” is always the correct choice.

With these tips, you’ll be running through your English grammar with ease in no time!