run vs ran

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

I work in a clinical laboratory. There is a memo in which someone has marked through the original “ran” and written in “run”. Can you tell me which is correct? The original sentence was:

“Our accrediting agency requires that a background count be ran everytime a reagent is changed.”

it was changed to:

“Our accrediting agency requires that a background count be run everytime a reagent is changed.”

thanks for your help

2

“Run” is correct there. The clause is in the passive voice, and that requires the past participle “run”, not the simple past tense “ran”. Basically, if there is a helping verb before it, you know the correct form can’t be “ran”.