Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[learner1]

Hello,

"He ran very fast because he was chased by a dog."

Could we use 'run after' instead of 'chase' here as in:

"He ran very fast because he was run after by a dog."

Thank you very much.

[Philo Kevetch]

Hello Learner -

You seem to be working quite hard at your study of English usage.

Do you think it is more interesting (fun?) once you have mastered basic grammar and begin to 'wrestle' with usage?

In you example, 'chased' gives us a stronger sense/idea that the dog is a threat/danger. Philo

[learner1]

Hello Philo,

Thank you very much for answering my question.

Could you tell me if 'run after' is appropriate here? Do you mean 'run after' doesn't have the sense that the dog is a danger? According to my dictionary, 'chase' and 'run after' have the same meaning. I'm confused about this.

You asked 'Do you think it is more interesting (fun?)'. Good question! Actually, I don't think it's fun or interesting at all for me. Instead, I think it is a difficult part of English to learn for non- native English speakers. However, it is important and necessary process when learning English to me.

Thank you very much.



.

[Philo Kevetch]

If your example involved a man and a dog playing (running together)...chase and run after would have the same meaning.

The dog chased the ball.
The dog ran after the ball.

In your example, it doesn't sound as if they are running together (playing)Yes, chase implies a greater 'sense' of danger. (hunt/attack)

And... Yes, usage is a challenge....read,read,read....and it gets easier.

Philo

[learner1]

Hello Philo,

Thank you very much again for your answer.