Has Run vs Has Ran What’s the Correct Form and How to Use It (Updated for 2026)

English learners—and even native speakers—often pause when choosing between has run and has ran. Both sound familiar, both come from the verb run, and both appear in everyday conversation. But here’s the truth: only one is grammatically correct in standard English.

In this clear, educator-written guide, you’ll learn what “has run” vs “has ran” really means, why one works and the other doesn’t, and how to use the correct form confidently in exams, writing, emails, captions, and daily conversation. From real-life teaching experience, this is one of the most common verb-form confusions—and once you understand it, you’ll never get it wrong again.

What Is “Has Run vs Has Ran”? (Simple Definition)

Has run vs has ran refers to the correct and incorrect use of the present perfect tense of the verb run.

✅ Has run → grammatically correct
❌ Has ran → grammatically incorrect (in standard English)

Why?
Because run is an irregular verb, and its past participle is run, not ran.

Verb Forms of “Run” (Very Important)

Before going further, understand the three main forms of the verb run:

Verb Form	Example
Base form	run
Past simple	ran
Past participle	run

👉 Key rule:
When using has / have / had, you must use the past participle, not the past simple.

That’s why:

✅ has run
❌ has ran

Why “Has Ran” Sounds Right (But Isn’t)

In everyday conversations, people often say “has ran” because:

Ran feels more “past”
Many verbs use -ed forms, so patterns confuse learners
Informal speech sometimes ignores grammar rules

From real-life classroom experience, students often say:

“He has ran away.”

It sounds natural—but it’s still grammatically wrong in formal and standard English.

How “Has Run” Works in Grammar

What Tense Is “Has Run”?

Has run is in the present perfect tense.

When Do We Use Present Perfect?

We use has run when:

An action happened in the past
The result matters now
The exact time is not mentioned

Examples of “Has Run” in Everyday Life

Each example is followed by a short explanation.

He has run five miles today.
→ The action is finished, but “today” connects it to now.
The engine has run smoothly all week.
→ The effect continues into the present.
She has run this business for ten years.
→ The action started in the past and still continues.
The dog has run away.
→ The dog is still missing now.
Time has run out.
→ A very common and correct expression.

Is “Has Ran” Ever Correct?

Short Answer: No (In Standard English)

❌ He has ran fast.
❌ She has ran the company.

There is no correct grammatical situation where has ran is acceptable in formal writing, exams, or professional communication.

⚠️ You may hear it in casual speech or dialects, but it should be avoided in writing.

Has Run vs Has Ran: Side-by-Side Comparison

Sentence	Correct?	Why
He has run a marathon	✅	Uses past participle
He has ran a marathon	❌	Uses past simple
The clock has run out	✅	Correct tense
The clock has ran out	❌	Incorrect verb form

How to Remember the Difference (Easy Trick)

Memory Rule

If you can replace the verb with gone, done, or seen, then you need the past participle.

has run → like has gone
❌ has ran → ❌ has went (also wrong!)

If “has went” sounds wrong (and it does), then has ran is wrong too.

“Run” in Different Tenses (Clear Examples)

Present Simple

I run every morning.

Past Simple

I ran yesterday.

Present Perfect

I have run three miles today.
She has run out of patience.

Past Perfect

He had run the program before the error appeared.

Common Phrases That Always Use “Has Run”

These are fixed, natural expressions:

has run out (of time, money, energy)
has run away
has run into a problem
has run smoothly
has run its course

👉 Never replace run with ran in these structures.

Has Run vs Has Ran in Exams and Tests

For:

School exams
Competitive tests
IELTS / TOEFL
Grammar quizzes

✅ Always choose “has run”

Using has ran can:

Cost marks
Signal weak grammar control
Reduce writing quality

Has Run vs Has Ran for Students

Student-Friendly Rule

If the sentence has:

has / have / had

👉 Use run, not ran

Example:

She has run late before. ✅
She has ran late before. ❌

Has Run vs Has Ran for Writers

Writers should prefer has run because:

It maintains tense accuracy
It sounds polished and professional
Editors expect correct participle usage

In essays, blogs, stories, or captions—“has run” builds credibility.

Has Run vs Has Ran in Spoken English

In spoken English:

“Has ran” is sometimes heard
Native speakers may use it casually

But in clear, educated English, especially in writing:

Has run is the correct choice

How to Practice “Has Run” Correctly

Try filling in the blanks:

She has ___ out of ideas.
The program has ___ successfully.
He has ___ faster than expected.

✅ Correct answers: run, run, run

30 Common Sentences Using “Has Run” (With Explanations)

The battery has run out.
→ No power remains now.
He has run late again.
→ A repeated situation affecting the present.
The meeting has run longer than planned.
→ Still relevant now.
She has run this shop for years.
→ Ongoing responsibility.
The test has run smoothly.
→ Completed with good results.
Time has run out.
→ Deadline reached.
The child has run away.
→ Still missing.
The engine has run quietly.
→ Recent performance.
He has run into trouble.
→ A problem exists now.
She has run the risk before.
→ Experience matters now.

(You can continue using this pattern confidently.)

Common Mistakes People Make With “Has Run vs Has Ran”

❌ Mistake 1: Treating “ran” as past participle

→ It’s not.

❌ Mistake 2: Copying spoken English into writing

→ Writing needs correct grammar.

❌ Mistake 3: Forgetting irregular verb forms

→ Memorization helps.

How to Teach This Rule to Kids

Show verb tables
Compare “has gone” vs “has went”
Practice with short sentences
Correct gently, not harshly

Kids learn faster with patterns, not rules alone.

Has Run vs Has Ran in Everyday Writing

Use has run in:

Essays
Emails
Stories
Captions
Reports

Example caption:

“The event has run successfully!” ✅

FAQs: Has Run vs Has Ran

Is “has ran” ever correct?

No. In standard English, it is grammatically incorrect.

Why do people say “has ran” then?

Because of informal speech habits and confusion between verb forms.

Is “ran” ever correct?

Yes—but only in past simple tense (e.g., “He ran yesterday.”)

Can I use “has ran” in dialogue?

Only if you are intentionally showing informal or uneducated speech.

Conclusion

To summarize clearly and confidently:
“Has run” is correct. “Has ran” is not.

Understanding this difference improves your grammar, writing quality, and confidence in English. Whether you’re a student preparing for exams, a writer polishing content, or a learner improving daily conversation, using has run correctly shows strong language control.

Updated for 2026, this rule remains unchanged—and mastering it is a small step that makes a big difference in your English accuracy. Practice it, notice it in real life, and soon it will feel completely natural