Ran close by her
/ræn kloʊs baɪ hɜr/
verb phraseA2past tense
Definition
This phrase describes a person running (moving fast on foot) very near to a woman or girl. "Ran" is the past form of "run," "close" means near in distance, and "by her" means next to or near the female person.
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See It in Action
Someone moved quickly on foot near a female person
- •He ran close by her during the morning jog in the park.
- •The dog ran close by her as she walked down the street.
- •She noticed the runner who ran close by her at the race.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "ran close by her" like "walked near her," but faster because running is quicker than walking.
- ✓Picture someone jogging or running right next to a woman, almost touching but not stopping.
- ✓It's the feeling when someone passes you quickly on the street or in a park, close enough to notice them well.
- ✓Sounds like "ran close by her" → imagine a runner saying "ran close by her" as they quickly pass.
- ✓Think of a race where a runner passes very near to a friend watching.
- ✓NOT like "ran far away" (which is moving quickly but at a distance), "ran close by her" means very near.
- ✓NOT like "walked close by her" (slower movement), this is faster, more active.
Try Other Words
- •Jogged near her: moving at a slower running speed close to her (Use when the speed is less fast)
- •Ran past her: moving quickly and going beyond her position (Use when focusing on passing, not just closeness)
- •Moved quickly beside her: general fast movement next to her (Use when you want a broader, less specific phrase)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "ran" (past of run) + "close" (near) + "by" (next to) + "her" (female pronoun)
- •Etymology: "Run" comes from Old English "rinnan," meaning to move swiftly on foot; "close" from Old English "clōs," meaning near; "by" from Old English "bi," meaning near or beside; "her" is a pronoun for a female person.
- •Historical development: The phrase is a simple combination of words used to describe movement near someone in the past.
- •Modern usage: Commonly used in everyday English to describe someone moving fast near another person.
Reflect & Connect
•When might it be important to notice if someone "ran close by her"? How does it change the situation?
•How does the speed and closeness in "ran close by her" affect how you feel about the action?
Fill in the blanks
1.He ___ ran close by her ___ during the morning exercise, so she heard his footsteps clearly.
2.The dog ran close by her, making her feel ___ because it was so near.
3.Unlike walking, when someone ran close by her, they moved ___ and very near.
4.She smiled when the runner ran close by her, showing ___ support.
5.People usually do not like it when strangers run close by them because it feels ___.
6.After he ran close by her, she ___ turned to see who it was.
7.When someone ran close by her quickly, we can infer they were in a hurry or ___ something.