gerannt

Gerannt is the past participle of the German verb rennen, meaning to run. It is primarily used with the auxiliary sein to form the Perfekt and other perfect tenses, for example Ich bin gerannt (I ran / I have run) or Er war gerannt (he had run). In standard narrative past, the simple past of rennen is expressed with rannte (Er rannte).

Formation and grammar. The participle gerannt is a strong-verb past participle that combines the ge- prefix with the stem ren- and a final -nt. This form contrasts with laufen, whose past participle is gelaufen. As with other verbs of motion, the Perfekt of rennen uses sein as the auxiliary: Ich bin gerannt, Wir sind gerannt. In contexts requiring the pluperfect or other tenses, the appropriate auxiliary and participle forms are used (z. B. Ich war gerannt; Ich bin gerannt gewesen).

Usage and nuance. Gerannt often conveys a sense of urgent, rapid, or strenuous running, such as escaping, chasing, or covering distance quickly. In everyday language, speakers sometimes prefer gelaufen (to have run, to have walked or run in general) or use simple past forms like rannte for narrative flow. The choice between gerannt and gelaufen can affect nuance and regional usage.

Examples.

- Gestern bin ich drei Kilometer gerannt.

- Er rannte los, doch ich bin ihm nicht hinterhergerannt.

- Nachdem das Feuer ausgebrochen war, waren sie erneut gerannt, um Hilfe zu holen.

Related terms. Gerannt is related to the verb rennen and contrasts with gelaufen, the common past participle of laufen. As a participle, gerannt is distinct from finite verb forms and appears in combinations that require an auxiliary and a participial ending.