Run, Ran: Have You Run into This Grammar Error?

The present tense of run is run. The association members run a sloppy office.

The past tense is ran.  I ran out of patience.

The past participle is run. I have run into resistance every time I’ve tried to solve the problem. She has run from her responsibilities.

Regarding the problem that arises when forming the past participle, some people mistakenly use the past tense ran instead of the correct past participle run, as in I have ran into resistance every time I’ve tried to solve this problem or She has ran from her responsibilities. (I’ve also heard some people make the same mistake when forming a sentence in the past perfect tense, as in I had ran them down before they left the office, which should be I had run them down…) Do yourself a favor: Run as far from these constructions as possible—and don’t look back.

Sherry

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