Phrasal verb run off. Meanings of the verb run. Basic characteristics of the verb

Phrasing is a special property English verbs, which is inherent in many lexical constructions. Its essence lies in the ability to form new, fundamentally new meanings, which are sometimes radically different from the original translation of a word. One of the structures is run, a lexical unit that can be followed by prepositions and adverbs and, accordingly, have different shades values. In addition, the verb itself has several grammatical features that are also important to mention.

Basic characteristics of the verb

The main translation that the structure in question has is “to run.” However, the verb is not always translated this way, which is why it is called phrasal, since it is capable of forming new shades that are not typical for such a translation. For example:

  • He is able to run up a new pair of shoes; therefore, you may address him –He capable fast do new a couple shoes, That's why You can contact To him
  • I don't want to run my personal ideas by him -I Not Want expound their personal ideas to him

In addition, the design in question is; Compared to the correct one, it does not have the ending –ed. The 3 forms of the verb look like run – ran – run. From this it is clear that the second form of the verb used to express the Past tense and the third form (for the Perfect tense) are the same. In addition, if there is also a continuous form formed with the help of the ending –ing.

Note: continuous forms are sometimes written in a non-standard way; in the Continuous form, the last consonant of the verb will be doubled, since it is preceded by a short stressed vowel sound - running.

This word is pronounced quite standard. The pronunciation is the same in both British and American English: the transcription will look like .

Colloquial expressions with verb

Phrasal verb run is quite often included in various colloquial constructions. At the same time, sometimes it will not be possible to translate such structures word for word, since a direct translation sometimes means something completely different from what is meant in one or another idiom. Below are examples of popular expressions that are often used in colloquial speech:

in the long run - in the long term
run out of time - not enough time

Similar designs on English language are often used not only in colloquial, but also in written speech, as well as in journalistic style.

Like Phrasal verb

As already mentioned, phrasal verbs are those lexical units in which, due to the appearance of a preposition or an adverb (and sometimes both), the construction acquires a completely new meaning and is suitable for a new situation. When it comes to run, there are quite a few possible options, each of which is characteristic of a specific speech moment. The following are examples of the most common phrasal constructions with the word in question:

Out, down, to, into

  • run out of - end

  • for the phrasal verb run down the typical meaning is “to go down”:

Im going to run down and punish you if you do not want to behave well- I'm going to take you down and punish you if you don't want to behave.

  • the construction to run to is translated as “ask for help”:

Mr. Cunningham is too respected and wealthy to run to us, I suppose he will not call us even if he is dying“Mr. Cunningham is too respected and rich to ask us for help; I think he won't call even if he's dying

  • the option to run into has the connotation of “stumble across”. By the way, the construction to run across has exactly the same translation:

You will believe me but I ran into him in the supermarket by chance yesterday –You to me Not you'll believe it, But yesterday I accidentally I stumbled on him V store

After, over, against

  • the to run after construction means “to pursue”:

It was quite difficult for me to run after Alex, but I managed to catch him –Was enough hard chase Alexa, But to me managed catch his

  • Typical meanings for the structure to run over – “to move, run over”:

Don't go there; the officer said that he had been run over by a car, and he is in hospital now –Not go there, Officer said, What his moved by car And Now He V hospital

  • the phrase to run off is translated as “to run away”:

Why did you run off? Was it so boring there? –Why You ran away? Was it that boring there?

  • the expression to run against has the meaning of “to resist, to interfere with something”:

Your enemies run against you, don’t give them a chance to believe in your weaknesses –You oppose yours enemies, Not give them chance believe V yours weaknesses

Most of these meanings, as you can see in the examples, have virtually no overlap with the original meaning of the verb, which makes the need to memorize all these constructions important. Taking into account all these features will help to correctly use the appropriate expressions in speech and not make mistakes when using certain idioms.

Verbrun– one of the polysemantic, common words used independently or as part of expressions, phrasal verbs. In this collection we will look at the main uses of the verb run and expressions with it.

Basic meanings of the verb RUN

If we consider the verb run at the initial, non-advanced level, it means “to run”, but this is not its only meaning. Let's look at a few basic ones.

  • Run

The dog is running. - The dog is running.

I run every morning. - I run every morning.

  • Manage, control

Bill runs his business. Bill runs his own business.

Who runs the restaurant? – Who runs the restaurant?

  • Work (about a device, mechanism), control a device

The machine is still running. - The machine is still working.

I can't run this machine. – I don’t know how to drive this car.

Leave the engine running. - Don't turn off the engine.

  • Travel, make regular trips along the route:

The trains are not running due to the weather. – Trains don’t run because of the weather.

The bus runs five times a day into town. – Buses go to the city five times a day.

Useful expressions with the verb RUN

Separately, I will highlight several useful expressions with the word run (verb or noun)

  • run low– run out (stocks of something have decreased)

Supplies are running low. - Supplies are running out.

  • run out of something– run out (stocks of something are approaching zero)

In this expression, unlike the previous one, what is expressed ends with (fuel, money), and not (we, I):

We are running out of fuel. We're running out of fuel.

I ran out of money. - I've run out of money.

  • run short of something– running out (inventories are decreasing)

Here, too, the object ends, not the subject.

We are running short of water. - We're running out of water.

The difference with “running out” is that run out is when stocks run out completely, and run short is when stocks come to a small amount.

  • run errands– carry out instructions

Usually this means going somewhere and doing something, buying something, bringing something.

I was running errands for my father. – I ran errands for my father (for example, went to get the mail, picked up dry cleaning, went shopping, etc.)

  • hitandrun- hit and drive away (by car)

Hit-and-run (literally “hit and run”) is when a driver hits a person with a car and flees the scene of the crime. In this expression, run is not a verb, but a noun.

She witnessed a hit-and-run accident. “She witnessed an incident where a car hit a man and fled.

She was killed by a hit-and-run driver. “She was hit and killed by a car that fled the scene.”

  • in the long run– in the long term

Expensive treatment will save you a lot of money in the long run. – Expensive treatment will save you a lot of money in the long run.

  • in the short run– in the short term

The wall won't last long, but it will help in the short run. “The wall won’t last long, but it will help in the short term.”

  • on the run– running, in a hurry, doing something else

Don't eat on the run. - Don't eat while running.

  • be on the run– 1) be on the run, 2) be very busy

The criminal is still on the run. - The criminal is still on the run.

He is always on the run and has not time to chat. “He’s always busy and doesn’t have time to chat.”

Phrasal verbs with RUN

The verb run, especially in the meaning of “run,” is often used with prepositions and adverbs; such combinations can form phrasal verbs.

  • run away- run away

We ran away in terror. “We ran away in horror.”

  • run up to someone\something– run up to someone/something

The kids ran up to me. “The children ran up to me.

  • run for- catching up

I was running for the bus but it drove off. “I ran after the bus, but it drove away.”

  • run into someone / run across- run into someone unexpectedly

I ran into (ran across) my classmate at the mall. – I accidentally met a classmate in a shopping center.

  • run across a problem- to face a problem

We ran across a problem with the new equipment. – We encountered a problem with the new equipment.

  • run after something- try to achieve something, “chase” something

He spent his life running after fame. “He spent his life chasing fame.

  • run after somebody– try to achieve someone’s affection, “run” after someone

He's always running after women. – He constantly runs after women.

  • run against sb\ smt- to be against something (to play not in favor)

Luck was running against him that day. “That day luck was not on his side.

  • run around- be very busy, do a lot of things

I’m tired, I’ve been running around all day. - I'm tired, I've been busy all day.

  • run on something– work on something (about a power source, energy)

Her car runs on electricity, not gas. – Her car runs on electricity, not gasoline.

  • run over something/someone- move by car

He ran over a cat while driving to work. – He ran over a cat while driving to work.

  • run over/ through ssomething– briefly repeat something, “go through” something

Let's quickly run through the lines before we go on the stage. – Let’s quickly go over the script before we go on stage.

  • run off- run away unexpectedly

His wife ran off with another man. “His wife ran away with another man.”

He is a bad employee, today he ran off home when I needed him. “He’s a bad worker, today he ran home when I needed him.”

  • run to something- to achieve something, some milestone

The cost of construction work might run to a million dollars. – The cost of construction can reach up to a million dollars.

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Phrasal verb RUN: usage options, exercise with answers.

The phrasal verb RUN is followed by the following words:

– away
– into
– out of
– over
– through
– on

Choose the correct word to insert.

Exercise Hint Answer

1. Let’s run ____ that dance sequence just one more time.

2. Sharon thought David was out of town, but she ran ____ him at the cinema.

3. He almost ran ____ a cat yesterday when it jumped in front of his car.

4. The book is about a young boy who runs ____ from home.

5. We’ve run ____ sugar – I’ll go and buy some.

6. He has almost run ____ the neighbor’s cat!

7. I hope we won’t run ____ petrol before we get home!

8. I ran ____ Eddie in the supermarket yesterday.

9. Most cars run ____ unleaded petrol.

10. The robber tried to run ____ from the police but he didn’t manage to.

11. My cat got run ____ by a car yesterday.

12. We’ve run ____ petrol. We need to find a petrol station.

13. A lot of cars in Russia run ____ natural gas.

14. Guess what? I ran ____ Ivan at the library today.

15. I saw a thief running ____ from the police in town last night.

run away - run away
run into – to accidentally meet someone
run out of – run out (usually about products)
run over - run over
run through – rehearse
run on – run on something (electricity, fuel)

1. Let's run through that dance sequence just one more time. - Let's rehearse the sequence of dance movements again.

2. Sharon thought David was out of town, but she ran into him at the cinema. – Sharon thought that David was out of town, but suddenly she met him at the cinema.

3.He almost ran over a cat yesterday when it jumped in front of his car. “Yesterday he almost ran over a cat when it jumped in front of the car.

4. The book is about a young boy who runs away from home. – A book about a boy who runs away from home.

5. We've run out of sugar – I’ll go and buy some. - We're running out of sugar. I'll go buy some.

6. He has almost run over the neighbor's cat! “He almost ran over the neighbor’s cat!”

7. I hope we won’t run out of petrol before we get home! “I hope we don’t run out of gas before we get home!”

8. I ran into Eddie in the supermarket yesterday. – Yesterday in the supermarket I accidentally met Eddie.

9. Most cars run on unleaded petrol. Most cars run on unleaded gasoline.

10. The robber tried to run away from the police but he didn’t manage to. – The robber tried to escape from the police, but could not.

11. My cat got run over by a car yesterday. – Yesterday my cat was almost run over by a car.

12. We've run out of petrol. We need to find a petrol station. - We've run out of gas. We need to find a gas station.

13. A lot of cars in Russia run on natural gas. – Many cars in Russia run on natural gas.

14. Guess what? I ran into Ivan at the library today. – Can you imagine? I accidentally met Ivan today in the library.

15. I saw a thief running away from the police in town last night. “I saw a thief running away from the police last night.”

Phrasal verb Run:
1.Run around - hang out with dubious company, lead a dissolute life.
He was running around with bad guys - He hung out with the bad guys.
2. Run about - run back and forth, frolic. The dog was running about the garden - The dog was running around the garden.
3. Run along - leave. Don`t run along, I`m talking to you - Don’t go away, I’m talking to you.
4. Run away with - lose control (of a car), win an easy victory, get out of someone’s control. Our team should run away with the cricket competition - Our team will easily win the cricket championship.
5. Run at - attack, rush. He ran at him - He attacked him.
6.Run down - to knock down, find, decline, reduce, be in crisis.
The girl was run down - The girl was hit by a car.
He ran down a very good article - He found a very good article.
7. Run up - increase (about prices), do on a quick fix.
Prices are running up nowadays - Today prices are rising.
I ran up several dishes, but they weren`t tasty - I whipped up several dishes, but they were not tasty.
8. Run up against - collide, meet.
The company ran up against various difficulties - The company faced various problems.
9. Run in - arrest, put in jail
You have no evidence to run me in - You have no evidence to put me in prison.
10. Run into - collide, meet by chance, experience problems, be in crisis
She ran into a bench - She ran into a bench.
He ran into Sandra yesterday - Yesterday he accidentally met Sandra.
The company ran into deep crisis - The company is in deep crisis.
11. Run out - end, run out. The time is running out - Time is running out.
12. Run over - go over the edge, exceed the limit, knock down.
Water is running over - Water overflows.
We tried not to run over the agreed price - We tried not to go beyond the agreed price.
The car ran over a little girl - The car hit a little girl.
15. Run over with - to be carried away (by an idea).
Those days he was running over with literature - In those days he was very interested in literature.
16. Run off - run away, scribble (poems). Yesterday I ran off the report in 2 hours - Yesterday I wrote a report in 2 hours.

In today's post we will learn about the verb run. I think almost everyone knows its basic meaning - “ run, run ". But this verb has several other meanings. Let's look at these meanings and the situations in which it is used.

« run“in the meaning of “running as a sport” in English it would be jog: He does joggig every morning

  • work, function — about the mechanism
    The engine is not running well - the engine is acting up
  • manage
    — She started running the company after her father retired. “She started running the company after her father retired.
    — WhenMr. Clark is away it is John who runs the store. — When Mr. Clark is away, it is John who runs the store.
  • run, run according to schedule
    — The ferry to the island runs every other day — The ferry to the island runs every other day.
  • stretch
    — The plain runs north — The plain extends to the north.
  • flow, stream, flow
    — Water ran from a broken pipe. — Water was flowing from a damaged pipe.

Collocations with the verb run

  • run into - collide, crash
    — I saw a bad accident yesterday. A car ran into a tree. — Yesterday I saw a terrible accident. The car crashed into a tree.
    — We ran into each other in a supermarket and were so surprised that could’t say a word for a while. We ran into each other by chance in a supermarket and were so surprised that we couldn’t say a word for a while.
  • run late - be late
    — It’s 8 o’clock. You're running late! Hurry up! - 8 o'clock, you're late! Hurry up!
  • run out - end
    — One week later he called me and told he had run out of money. “A week later he called and said he had run out of money.
    — You have run out of time, hand in your papers! You've run out of time, turn in your work!
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