Steal past tense

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Meaning of steal

to take (another person's property) without permission or legal right and without intending to return it.

Infinitive

Word: steal /stiːl/
Examples:
  • 1. Every time the store owner looks away, the little boy tries to steal a candy from the jar.
  • 2. They say that robins steal shiny objects to decorate their nests.
  • 3. If you steal someone's idea and claim it as your own, that's considered plagiarism.

Past Simple

Word: stole /stoʊl/
Examples:
  • 1. She stole the necklace when no one was looking.
  • 2. He stole for the first time, so he felt extremely guilty.
  • 3. They stole away in the night, leaving no trace behind.

Past Participle

Word: stolen /ˈstoʊ.lən/
Examples:
  • 1. The painting was stolen from the gallery last night.
  • 2. All the cookies had been stolen before the party even started.
  • 3. The secret formula has been stolen by an unknown agent.

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Bare infinitive

  1. General Truths or Facts
    Example. He steals from no one because honesty is his principle.
    Example. She always steals a few minutes in the morning to meditate.
  2. Habitual Actions
    Example. He steals from no one because honesty is his principle.
    Example. She always steals a few minutes in the morning to meditate.

Past Simple

  1. Completed Actions in the Past
    Example. They stole the car last night.
    Example. When he was younger, he often stole cookies from the cookie jar.
    Example. She stole the documents, escaped through the back door, and then drove away quickly.
  2. Past Habit
    Example. They stole the car last night.
    Example. When he was younger, he often stole cookies from the cookie jar.
    Example. She stole the documents, escaped through the back door, and then drove away quickly.
  3. Past Events in Sequence
    Example. They stole the car last night.
    Example. When he was younger, he often stole cookies from the cookie jar.
    Example. She stole the documents, escaped through the back door, and then drove away quickly.

Past Participle

  1. Perfect Tenses
    Example. The painting was stolen from the museum last night.
    Example. The stolen goods were found in the abandoned warehouse.
  2. Present Perfect. He has never stolen anything in his life.
    Example. The painting was stolen from the museum last night.
    Example. The stolen goods were found in the abandoned warehouse.
  3. Past Perfect. By the time the police arrived, the thief had already stolen the jewels.
    Example. The painting was stolen from the museum last night.
    Example. The stolen goods were found in the abandoned warehouse.
  4. Future Perfect. By next week, they will have stolen enough money to start anew.
    Example. The painting was stolen from the museum last night.
    Example. The stolen goods were found in the abandoned warehouse.
  5. Passive Voice
    Example. The painting was stolen from the museum last night.
    Example. The stolen goods were found in the abandoned warehouse.
  6. As an Adjective
    Example. The painting was stolen from the museum last night.
    Example. The stolen goods were found in the abandoned warehouse.

Common mistakes

— 01

Confusing 'stole' and 'stolen'

A common mistake is using 'stolen' (the past participle) instead of 'stole' (the past simple) when it's not accompanied by an auxiliary verb. For example, some might incorrectly say, 'He stolen the car yesterday,' instead of the correct form, 'He stole the car yesterday.' The correct usage of 'stolen' requires an auxiliary verb, as in, 'The car has been stolen.'

— 02

Incorrectly using 'stole'

Another frequent error is using 'stole' in place of 'stolen' when forming perfect tenses, which require the past participle. For instance, saying, 'I have stole the keys' instead of the correct 'I have stolen the keys.' This mistake alters the grammatical structure and meaning, leading to confusion and incorrect tense usage.

— 03

Misapplication in passive voice

A further mistake involves misusing the simple past form 'stole' instead of the past participle 'stolen' in passive voice constructions. For example, it's incorrect to say, 'The money was stole from the safe,' when it should be, 'The money was stolen from the safe.' Using the simple past instead of the past participle in passive sentences disrupts the intended meaning and clarity of the sentence.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the past simple form of 'steal'?

The past simple form of 'steal' is 'stole'. This form is used to talk about actions that happened at a specific time in the past. For example, 'Yesterday, she stole a candy bar from the store.'

What is the past participle form of 'steal'?

The past participle form of 'steal' is 'stolen'. This form is often used in perfect tenses and passive voice sentences. For example, in the present perfect tense, you might say, 'He has stolen a piece of art before,' and in a passive voice sentence, 'The jewels were stolen during the night.'

How do I use 'stole' and 'stolen' in sentences correctly?

To use 'stole' correctly, you should place it in sentences where a past action is described without the need for an auxiliary verb. For example. 'They stole the car last night.' For 'stolen', it's typically used with an auxiliary verb in perfect tenses or as an adjective. In perfect tenses. 'She has stolen my idea.' As an adjective. 'The stolen painting was found in his attic.'

Can you give examples of sentences with 'stole' and 'stolen' in different tenses?

Sure, here are examples across different tenses. Past Simple (stole). 'He stole my bike when I was at school.' Present Perfect (stolen). 'I have never stolen anything in my life.' Past Perfect (stolen). 'By the time the police arrived, the thief had already stolen the jewels.' Passive Voice (stolen). 'The secret documents were stolen by a spy.' Remember, the context in which you use 'stole' or 'stolen' significantly affects the meaning and grammatical accuracy of your sentence.