The Verb "Run" in English

Conjugation of "To Run"

The verb "run" is an irregular verb. (This means that "run" does not form its simple past tense or its past participle by adding "-ed" or "-d" to the base form.)

The Five Forms of "To Run"

FormrunAlternative Name
Base FormrunInfinitive Form
The -S FormrunsThird Person Singular Form
Past FormranSimple Past Tense
The -ING FormrunningPresent Participle Form
The Past Participle Formrun[no alternative name]
the verb to run in English

Example Sentences with To Run

It's your go. Select the correct version of "to run":

"To Run" in All the Tenses

The tables below show how "run" conjugates in the past, present, and future tenses.

Past Tenses

PersonSimple PastPast Progressive TensePast Perfect TensePast Perfect Progressive Tense
  • I
  • you
  • he/she/it
  • we
  • you
  • they
  • ran
  • ran
  • ran
  • ran
  • ran
  • ran
The simple past tense is for a completed activity that happened in the past.
  • was running
  • were running
  • was running
  • were running
  • were running
  • were running
The past progressive tense is for an ongoing activity in the past. Often, it is used to set the scene for another action.
  • had run
  • had run
  • had run
  • had run
  • had run
  • had run
The past perfect tense is for emphasizing that an action was completed before another took place.
  • had been running
  • had been running
  • had been running
  • had been running
  • had been running
  • had been running
The past perfect progressive tense is for showing that an ongoing action in the past has ended.

Present Tenses

PersonSimple PresentPresent Progressive TensePresent Perfect TensePresent Perfect Progressive Tense
  • I
  • you
  • he/she/it
  • we
  • you
  • they
  • run
  • run
  • runs
  • run
  • run
  • run
The simple present tense is mostly for a fact or a habit.
  • am running
  • are running
  • is running
  • are running
  • are running
  • are running
The present progressive tense is for an ongoing action in the present.
  • have run
  • have run
  • has run
  • have run
  • have run
  • have run
The present perfect tense is for an action that began in the past. (Often, the action continues into the present.)
  • have been running
  • have been running
  • has been running
  • have been running
  • have been running
  • have been running
The present perfect progressive tense is for a continuous activity that began in the past and continues into the present (or finished very recently).

Future Tenses

PersonSimple FutureFuture Progressive TenseFuture Perfect TenseFuture Perfect Progressive Tense
  • I
  • you
  • he/she/it
  • we
  • you
  • they
  • will run
  • will run
  • will run
  • will run
  • will run
  • will run
The simple future tense is for an action that will occur in the future.
  • will be running
  • will be running
  • will be running
  • will be running
  • will be running
  • will be running
The future progressive tense is for an ongoing action that will occur in the future.
  • will have run
  • will have run
  • will have run
  • will have run
  • will have run
  • will have run
The future perfect tense is for an action that will have been completed at some point in the future.
  • will have been running
  • will have been running
  • will have been running
  • will have been running
  • will have been running
  • will have been running
The future perfect progressive tense is for an ongoing action that will be completed at some specified time in the future.

Most Common Irregular Verbs

The two most common irregular verbs in English are "be" and "have." These pages give more details about these two verbs: Here are the next 10 most common irregular verbs in English:

Most Common Irregular Verbs

The two most common irregular verbs in English are "be" and "have." These pages give more details about these two verbs: Here are the next 10 most common irregular verbs in English:
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This page was written by Craig Shrives.