Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[hiromi525]

Is there any difference of a nuance between the two?

1. It's getting late.
2. I'm running late.

Can I say "It's running late."

[MauraS]

These two expressions are not the same at all.

1. refers to the time. For example, "It is getting late. It is already midnight."

2. refers to the speaker. For example, " There was a lot of traffic on the way here, so I am running late."

You can also say 'it's running late.' Maybe you are expecting a delivery but it is not on time, but it is on its way. Then you can say that it is running late.

Hope this helps!

[hiromi525]

Thank you very much for your reply.

You write 'it's running late.' Maybe you are expecting a delivery but it is not on time, but it is on its way. Then you can say that it is running late.

You mean that this refers to the time and speaker?

[MauraS]

For 2.I'm running late, refers to the speaker it is because the speaker is the subject of the sentence.

It's running late, refers to the item or delivery which is also the subject.

Here's a simpler way to look at a sentence with late.

It is late.

This could mean the hour. Example: It is late. I have to go home now.

or another example: It is late. I ordered the pizza one hour ago.

It depends on the context.