Mastering ‘Run out of’ to Excel in IELTS Speaking

1. Definition and Explanation

The phrasal verb “run out of” is a commonly used expression in English that means to exhaust or deplete a supply of something. It’s essential for IELTS candidates to understand and use this phrase effectively, as it can significantly enhance their speaking and writing skills.

Meanings:

1. To use up or finish a supply of something
2. To no longer have any of a particular item or resource

Synonyms: Deplete, exhaust, consume, use up, expend

2. Usage in Context

“Run out of” is versatile and can be used in various situations, both formal and informal. Here are some examples:

• Informal: “I ran out of milk this morning, so I couldn’t have my usual breakfast.”
• Formal: “The company is at risk of running out of funds if it doesn’t secure new investments soon.”
• Writing: “Many developing countries are running out of natural resources due to overexploitation.”
• Speaking: “I’m worried that we might run out of time before completing all the tasks.”

3. Grammatical Analysis

“Run out of” is a transitive phrasal verb, meaning it always requires an object. It is not separable, so the object always comes after the entire phrase.

Structure: Subject + run out of + object

For example:

• Correct: “We ran out of ideas.”
• Incorrect: “We ran ideas out of.”

Note: The tense can change, but the structure remains the same:

• Present: run out of
• Past: ran out of
• Present perfect: have/has run out of
• Future: will run out of

4. Application in IELTS

In Speaking:

Using “run out of” can demonstrate your ability to use idiomatic expressions naturally. It’s particularly useful for Part 2 and Part 3 of the speaking test.

Example question: “Describe a time when you had to solve a problem quickly.”

Sample answer: “Last month, I was working on an important project when I suddenly ran out of printer ink. With the deadline approaching, I had to think fast. I quickly called a colleague who lived nearby and asked if I could use their printer. Fortunately, they agreed, and I managed to print my work in time. This experience taught me the importance of always having backup supplies and being prepared for unexpected situations.”

IELTS candidate describing running out of printer ink

In Writing:

While “run out of” is more common in spoken English, it can be used effectively in writing tasks, especially in Task 2 essays or Task 1 reports describing trends.

Example for Task 2: “In many countries, governments are running out of options to address the growing problem of urban congestion. Some argue that improving public transportation is the only viable solution.”

Example for Task 1: “The graph shows that by 2030, several countries are predicted to run out of fossil fuel reserves if consumption continues at the current rate.”

5. Related Phrasal Verbs

1. Run low on /rʌn ləʊ ɒn/: To have very little of something left
   Example: “We’re running low on paper; we need to order more soon.”

2. Run short of /rʌn ʃɔːt əv/: To not have enough of something
   Example: “The restaurant ran short of ingredients due to unexpected demand.”

3. Wear out /weər aʊt/: To use something until it’s no longer usable
   Example: “My old shoes have worn out; it’s time to buy a new pair.”

4. Use up /juːz ʌp/: To consume or finish the entire supply of something
   Example: “We’ve used up all the milk; I’ll need to buy more.”

5. Burn out /bɜːn aʊt/: To exhaust one’s physical or emotional energy
   Example: “Many professionals burn out due to excessive work stress.”

6. Run dry /rʌn draɪ/: To be completely depleted, often referring to liquids or resources
   Example: “The well ran dry during the severe drought.”

7. Run through /rʌn θruː/: To use up quickly or wastefully
   Example: “He ran through his inheritance in just a few months.”

6. Practice Exercises

Fill in the Blanks:

1. The car ___ gas in the middle of nowhere.
2. I hope we don’t ___ food during our camping trip.
3. The charity is quickly ___ funds.
4. She ___ patience with her noisy neighbors.
5. We’ve ___ coffee; could you buy some?
6. The team was ___ ideas for the new project.
7. I’m afraid we’re ___ time to complete the task.
8. The hospital ___ medical supplies during the crisis.
9. He ___ excuses for his repeated lateness.
10. The company is ___ options to avoid bankruptcy.

Sentence Transformation:

1. There’s no more milk left.
   We have ___ milk.

2. All our energy was used up by the end of the day.
   We ___ energy by the end of the day.

3. The store has no more bread to sell.
   The store has ___ bread.

4. There are no more tickets available for the concert.
   The tickets for the concert have .

5. We’ve used all the available resources.
   We’ve ___ resources.

6. The printer doesn’t have any ink left.
   The printer has ___ ink.

7. There’s no more space on my phone for new apps.
   I’ve ___ space on my phone for new apps.

8. All the hot water was used this morning.
   We ___ hot water this morning.

9. The company has depleted its budget for the year.
   The company has ___ its budget for the year.

10. There are no more clean clothes in my wardrobe.
    I’ve ___ clean clothes.

Answers and Explanations:

Fill in the Blanks:

1. ran out of
2. run out of
3. running out of
4. ran out of
5. run out of
6. running out of
7. running out of
8. ran out of
9. ran out of
10. running out of

Sentence Transformation:

1. We have run out of milk.
2. We ran out of energy by the end of the day.
3. The store has run out of bread.
4. The tickets for the concert have run out.
5. We’ve run out of resources.
6. The printer has run out of ink.
7. I’ve run out of space on my phone for new apps.
8. We ran out of hot water this morning.
9. The company has run out of its budget for the year.
10. I’ve run out of clean clothes.

Explanation: In each case, “run out of” is used to indicate that a supply or resource has been completely used or is no longer available. The tense may vary (present, past, present perfect) depending on the context of the sentence.

7. Memory Tips

To remember “run out of,” visualize a person running with a container (representing the resource) that gradually empties as they run. By the end of their run, the container is completely empty – they’ve “run out of” the resource.

Person running with emptying container

Another method is to create a memorable phrase: “When you run out of steam, you’ve run out of energy!” This links the phrasal verb to a common idiom, making it easier to recall.

8. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

1. Incorrect word order: Remember, “run out of” is not separable.

   • Incorrect: “We ran milk out of.”
   • Correct: “We ran out of milk.”

2. Forgetting the “of”:

   • Incorrect: “I ran out money.”
   • Correct: “I ran out of money.”

3. Using with uncountable nouns:

   • Incorrect: “I ran out of furnitures.”
   • Correct: “I ran out of furniture.”

4. Overuse in formal writing: While “run out of” is acceptable in IELTS writing, overusing it in formal contexts can make your writing seem less sophisticated. Use synonyms or vary your expressions in formal essays.

9. Conclusion

Mastering phrasal verbs like “run out of” is crucial for success in the IELTS exam. It demonstrates a natural command of English and can significantly enhance your speaking and writing scores. Remember to practice using this phrasal verb in various contexts and tenses. By incorporating “run out of” and its related expressions into your language repertoire, you’ll be better equipped to express ideas about depletion, scarcity, and resource management – topics that frequently appear in IELTS tasks.

As you prepare for your IELTS exam, don’t forget to explore other common phrasal verbs and idiomatic expressions. The more you practice, the more natural and fluent your English will become. Good luck with your IELTS preparation!