Run past tense: ran, run
move quickly, manage
Run is an irregular English verb: the past simple of run is ran and the past participle is run. Learn the three forms together — run – ran – run.
Verb forms
Base form
/rʌn/
Past Simple
/ræn/
Past Participle
/rʌn/
Press the speaker button to hear each form. The transcription under each word shows the British pronunciation (IPA).
Example sentences
Base form · run
I run five kilometres every morning before work.
Past Simple · ran
He ran to catch the last train home.
Past Participle · run
She has run three marathons this year.
Key tenses
| Present Simple | Past Simple | Present Perfect |
|---|---|---|
I run he / she / it runs | I ran | I have run |
| Present Continuous:I am running · he / she / it is running | ||
Common collocations
run a business
to manage a company
run out of
to use up the whole supply of something
run late
to be behind schedule
Grammar guide
Run belongs to the small ABA group: the past participle is the same as the base form (run), and only the past simple (ran) is different.
- Past simple – ran: a finished action at a definite time in the past. It is used on its own, without an auxiliary.
- Past participle – run: after have, has or had (present perfect, past perfect) and after be in the passive voice.
- Questions and negatives in the past simple use did + the base form: Did you run…? I didn’t run.
Verbs with the same pattern
Quick quiz
Which sentence is correct?
Questions about run
- What is the past simple of run?
- The past simple of run is ran.
- What is the past participle of run?
- The past participle of run is run.
- What are the three forms of run?
- The three forms are run – ran – run: base form, past simple and past participle.
- Is run a regular or an irregular verb?
- Run is irregular: its past simple is ran, not runned.