The verb to run · Conjugation
Past Simple of run
The answer: ran
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to run is ran.
Example: I ran a marathon last year.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | ran |
| You | ran |
| He / She / It | ran |
| We | ran |
| You (pl.) | ran |
| They | ran |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Ran (Past Simple) ≠ run (past participle)
Run → ran → run. There are three forms, but the past participle is the same as the base form (like come). So: I ran (Past Simple), I have run (Present Perfect), never I have ran.
2. Runing ❌
Short verb + short vowel → double the n before -ing: running, never runing.
3. Run = to manage, too
Run a company, run a shop, run a business = to manage it. Run does not only mean to move fast.
Practice quiz
Going further
The English contest tests the Past Simple of run in real sentences
Instead of a single school exercise, your students meet this tense in context, in a contest that really motivates them.
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The conjugation is clear in your head. On PLAY, you practise it in a game, with instant feedback, until it comes out on its own.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of run?+
The Past Simple of run is ran, the same for every person. The past participle is run (the same as the base form!). Run → ran → run.
What is the difference between ran and run?+
Ran is the Past Simple, used alone: I ran a marathon. Run is the past participle, used after have / has in the Present Perfect: I have run three marathons.
Why does running have a double n?+
Run is a short verb that ends in one consonant after a short vowel. So you double the n before -ing: run → running.
Is it didn't run or didn't ran?+
Say didn't run: I didn't run yesterday. After didn't, the verb goes back to its base form (run, not ran).
What does run a company mean?+
Run a company means to manage it. You can also run a business or run a shop. So run is not only about moving fast on your feet.
Related pages: run Past Simple
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/run/past-simple
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.
Keep learning
More forms of the verb to run are coming soon.