What Does โRun sth over sbโ Mean?
โRun sth over sbโ means to hit someone with a vehicle, usually by accident. It can also mean to quickly review or explain something to someone.
Introduction
The phrasal verb โRun sth over sbโ has two common meanings. First, it refers to the act of accidentally hitting someone with a vehicle, such as a car or bike. Second, it can mean to quickly go through information or ideas with someone to make sure they understand. Understanding the โRun sth over sbโ meaning helps learners use it correctly in different situations. This phrasal verb is useful in both everyday conversations and formal contexts.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: run something over somebody
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: to hit someone with a vehicle; to review information with someone
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โRun sth over sbโ is a separable phrasal verb. You can place the object (โsomethingโ) between โrunโ and โoverโ or after โover.โ The person (โsbโ) follows the phrasal verb.
- run something over somebody
- run over something somebody
Example: โHe ran the car over the pedestrian.โ or โHe ran over the pedestrian with the car.โ
How to Use Run sth over sb?
Use โRun sth over sbโ when talking about hitting someone with a vehicle, usually by accident. It is also used when reviewing or explaining something quickly to someone. Pay attention to the context to understand which meaning fits best.
Examples
Here are some examples showing โRun sth over sbโ in sentences:
- The driver didnโt see the child and accidentally ran him over.
- Before the meeting, I ran the report over my boss to make sure everything was clear.
- She ran the bike over the dog by mistake.
- Let me run over the main points with you one more time.
- The cyclist was almost run over by a speeding car.
Common Mistakes
People often confuse the position of the object or misuse the phrase in the wrong context.
- Incorrect: He ran over the pedestrian the car.
- Correct: He ran the car over the pedestrian.
- Incorrect: I run over my notes on the teacher.
- Correct: I ran the notes over with the teacher.
Differences / Synonyms
โRun sth over sbโ is similar to โhit sb with sth,โ but it specifically involves running over with a vehicle. โGo overโ means to review something but doesnโt involve a person being hit.
- Run over: to hit and drive over someone or something.
- Go over: to review or explain information.
- Hit: to strike someone or something, not necessarily with a vehicle.
Common Collocations
We often use โrun overโ with vehicles and reports or ideas when reviewing.
- Run a car/bike/truck over sb: to hit someone with a vehicle.
- Run a report/plan/idea over sb: to review or explain something to someone.
- Run the numbers over sb: to quickly check calculations with someone.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of run sth over sb:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using โRun sth over sbโ:
Anna: Did you hear about the accident yesterday?
Ben: Yes, someone ran over a pedestrian near the park.
Anna: Thatโs terrible! By the way, can you run over the project plan with me before the meeting?
Ben: Sure, letโs do it now.
Practice
Try to complete the sentences with the correct form of โrun sth over sbโ:
- The driver accidentally _________ the dog while backing up.
- Before the presentation, I will _________ the slides with my colleague.
- She was almost _________ by a speeding car on the street.
- Can you _________ the contract over me one more time?
FAQ
- Q: Can โrun sth over sbโ mean something other than hitting?
A: Yes, it can also mean reviewing or explaining something to someone. - Q: Is โrun sth over sbโ always negative?
A: No, it can be neutral when used for reviewing information. - Q: Can the object come between โrunโ and โoverโ?
A: Yes, the object can be placed between โrunโ and โoverโ or after โover.โ - Q: What level of English is this phrasal verb?
A: It is generally B2 level. - Q: Is โrun overโ separable?
A: Yes, โrun overโ is a separable phrasal verb.
