Part 1 of 2 · Same verb · different particle

“run” phrasal verbs

Same verb, different particle, different meaning. “run” has 8 of them, so they come in 2 parts. Learn these 4 one at a time, then test yourself.

8 phrasal verbslisten & quiz

run

after by into out of

run + after · 1 of 4

run after

to chase someone or something

run after sth

To quickly follow someone or something because you want to catch them or get their attention.

How oftenCommon

LevelB1

Used inMostly spoken

Examples

The little boy ran after his dog when it escaped from the yard.

A: Where did you go just now?
B: I had to run after the bus because I was almost late for work.

Common mistake

Not: She ran after to the bus.

Say: She ran after the bus.

'Run after' takes the object directly — no 'to'.

More on “run after”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

In my hometown, you often see children running after ice cream trucks in the summer.

Tell it apart

She ran after the bus.

chased it to catch it

She ran into an old friend.

met by chance

Goes with

run after + target

Practice saying this

Next: run by

run + by · 2 of 4

run by

to tell someone about something so they can give their opinion

run sth by sb

to quickly explain an idea, plan, or decision to someone to see what they think about it

How oftenCommon

LevelB2

Used inMostly spoken

Examples

Let me run this idea by you before I send it to the team.

A: Hey, can I run something by you?
B: Sure, what's up?

Common mistake

Not: Let me run by ~~you the idea.~~

Say: Let me run the idea by you.

The order is 'run [the thing] by [the person]'.

More on “run by”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

Before making a big decision, I usually run it by my parents to get their advice.

Tell it apart

Let me run this by my manager.

get their opinion

Let me run through this with you.

go over it step by step

Goes with

run + something + by

Practice saying this

Next: run into

run + into · 3 of 4

run into

meet by chance

run into sb

to meet someone unexpectedly, usually by accident.

How oftenCommon

LevelB1

Used inMostly spoken

Examples

I ran into my old teacher at the supermarket yesterday.

A: Guess who I ran into at the park today?
B: Who?
A: Sarah from our English class!

Common mistake

Not: I ran into ~~with~~ my teacher in town.

Say: I ran into my teacher in town.

'Run into' takes the person directly — no 'with'.

More on “run into”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

Last weekend, I ran into an old friend while I was shopping in the city centre. We hadn't seen each other for years, so it was a nice surprise.

Tell it apart

I ran into Sam in town.

met by chance

I met up with Sam in town.

arranged it in advance

Goes with

run into + person

Practice saying this

Next: run out of

run + out of · 4 of 4

run out of

use all of something

run out of sth

To have no more of something left because you have used it all.

How oftenVery common

LevelB1

Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

We ran out of bread, so I need to go to the shop.

A: Can you make some tea?
B: Sorry, we've run out of tea bags.

Common mistake

Not: We ran out milk.

Say: We ran out of milk.

'Run out OF' + the thing. ('We've run out' alone is fine if the thing is obvious.)

More on “run out of”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

During my trip, we ran out of money and had to be very careful with our spending.

Tell it apart

We've run out of time.

none left

The dog ran out of the house.

ran outside

Goes with

run out of + resource

Practice saying this

Test yourself: which “run” fits?

Fill the gap

Which “run” fits?

Read the sentence, then pick the phrasal verb that belongs in the gap.

All of “run”

8 phrasal verbs in 2 parts.

Turn this into speaking practice

Pick one and say it out loud. Save the ones you mix up.

run after run by run into run out of