steal
Base form
steal
/stiːl/
Past simple
stole
/stəʊl/
Past participle
stolen
/ˈstəʊlən/
MeaningA2
to take something that is not yours
to steal the show
In use
- After a modal verb · Form 1Someone could steal your bike if you don’t lock it.
- Negative · Form 1Please don’t steal my chips while I’m at the bar.
- Past simple · Form 2Last night someone stole my bike from outside the station.
- Past simple · Form 2In the final minute Aisha stole the ball and scored.
- Passive · Form 3Her handbag was stolen while she was on the bus.
- Past perfect · Form 3Thieves had stolen the painting before the alarm went off.
Watch out
You steal a thing but rob a person or a bank: They stole the bank → They robbed the bank. Never stealed, stoled or stolden.
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