had run off

USAGE SUMMARY

"had run off" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing something that already took place in the past. For example: "The little girl had run off, so we had to go looking for her."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Nobody had run off with nobody's wife.

The New Yorker

The water had run off, though the tiles still glistened.

The New Yorker

"First my brother had run off," Will explains.

The New York Times - Books

Merry's husband had run off with her kids.

The New Yorker

The cousins had run off to get soy sauce.

The Guardian - Travel

How their mother had run off into the woods, witless and mad, after their father's death.

The New Yorker

"Everyone had run off for themselves with no coordination for where they were going to go".

The New York Times

Our accountant had run off with some of our money, which we never got back.

Independent

Why, why, why?' " Eli had run off to play in the yard.

The New York Times - Magazine

Before Henin knew it, Venus had run off eight games in a row.

The New York Times - Sports

Meanwhile, two members of the expedition had run off to a military outpost several miles away.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had run off", ensure the context clearly establishes the past perfect tense, indicating that the action occurred before another point in the past. For example: "By the time I arrived, he "had run off" with all the money."

Common error

Avoid mixing past simple and past perfect tenses incorrectly. For instance, don't say "He run off when I arrived" use "He "had run off" when I arrived" or "He ran off when I arrived" to maintain correct tense sequencing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had run off" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect tense. It indicates an action of leaving or escaping that was completed before another action occurred in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

96%

Wiki

2%

Science

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had run off" is a grammatically correct and very common verb phrase in the past perfect tense, indicating that someone or something departed before another event in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. As Ludwig examples show, it's frequently used in news and media to describe unexpected departures or escapes, as shown by the numerous examples found in sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. While versatile, ensure it is used with correct tense sequencing to maintain clarity and avoid common errors, such as inconsistent tense usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had absconded

Implies a sudden and secret departure, often with something stolen.

had bolted

Implies a sudden and uncontrolled movement or escape.

had fled

Emphasizes escaping from danger or an unpleasant situation.

had slipped away

Suggests a discreet or unnoticed departure.

had taken flight

Suggests a swift and often planned escape.

had vanished

Highlights the mysterious nature of someone's disappearance.

had disappeared

Focuses on the fact that someone or something is no longer present.

had cleared out

Emphasizes the act of removing oneself and one's belongings.

had departed

A more formal way of saying someone left.

had left abruptly

Highlights the unexpected nature of someone's leaving.

FAQs

How to use "had run off" in a sentence?

Use "had run off" to describe an action of leaving or escaping that was completed before another action in the past. For example, "By the time the police arrived, the suspect "had run off"."

What can I say instead of "had run off"?

You can use alternatives like "had fled", "had absconded", or "had disappeared" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "had run off" or "ran off"?

"Had run off" is used in the past perfect tense to indicate an action completed before another past action. "Ran off" is past simple and indicates a single past action. For example, "He "had run off" before I got there" vs. "He "ran off" yesterday."

What's the difference between "had run off" and "had ran off"?

"Had run off" is the correct past perfect form of the verb. "Had ran off" is grammatically incorrect. The past participle of 'run' is 'run', not 'ran'.