The English verb “steal” is a common but irregular verb that every learner encounters. It means to take something without permission or legal right, and it’s often used both literally and figuratively. Mastering the irregular past tense forms like “stole” is crucial for speaking and writing English fluently and accurately.
Why is this important? Because incorrect use of irregular past tense verbs is one of the most frequent mistakes among English learners, and understanding when and how to use “stole” instead of other forms like “steal” or “stolen” helps you communicate clearly and avoid errors.
This comprehensive guide is designed for:
- Students preparing for grammar exams
- ESL learners who want to improve their grammar
- Teachers seeking in-depth resources
- Writers and professionals refining their English
In this article, you’ll find detailed definitions, grammar rules, examples, explanations of common mistakes, advanced insights, and practice exercises with answers. Whether you’re just starting or polishing your skills, this guide will help you confidently use “stole”, the past tense of “steal.”
Table of Contents
- 3. Definition Section
- 4. Structural Breakdown
- 5. Types or Categories
- 6. Examples Section
- 7. Usage Rules
- 8. Common Mistakes
- 9. Practice Exercises
- 10. Advanced Topics
- 11. FAQ Section
- 12. Conclusion
3. Definition Section
A. What is the Verb ‘Steal’?
“Steal” is an irregular verb in English. It means to take something without permission or right, often secretly or by force.
Examples:
- “Someone tried to steal my bag.”
- “He plans to steal the formula.”
B. What is the Past Tense?
The simple past tense describes actions or events that happened and finished in the past. It helps us clearly indicate the time frame of an action.
Examples:
- “They traveled to Paris last year.”
- “I lost my keys yesterday.”
C. Past Tense of ‘Steal’: ‘Stole’
The simple past tense of “steal” is “stole”.
“Stole” is an irregular form because it doesn’t follow the usual verb + -ed pattern, unlike regular verbs such as:
- “walk” → “walked”
- “play” → “played”
D. Usage Contexts
We use “stole” to:
- Narrate past actions or events: “He stole my wallet yesterday.”
- Tell stories or recount events: “Once upon a time, a fox stole some grapes.”
- Report completed illegal acts or thefts: “Burglars stole the painting in 1995.”
4. Structural Breakdown
A. Irregular Verb Patterns
Unlike regular verbs, “steal” changes form irregularly. Here are its key forms:
| Form | Word | Pronunciation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base form | steal | /stiːl/ | “They plan to steal the money.” |
| Simple past | stole | /stoʊl/ | “They stole the money yesterday.” |
| Past participle | stolen | /ˈstoʊ.lən/ | “They have stolen the money.” |
| Present participle | stealing | /ˈstiː.lɪŋ/ | “They are stealing the money now.” |
B. Pronunciation Differences
- steal – /stiːl/ (one syllable, long “ee” sound)
- stole – /stoʊl/ (one syllable, long “o” sound)
- stolen – /ˈstoʊ.lən/ (two syllables, stress on first syllable)
C. Sentence Position and Structure
In sentences, “stole” appears as the main verb:
- Affirmative: “She stole the purse.”
- Negative: Use “did not” + base form “steal”: “She did not steal the purse.”
- Question: Use “Did” + subject + base form: “Did she steal the purse?”
D. Comparison with Other Forms
Do not confuse “stole” (simple past) with “stolen” (past participle).
| Form | Example | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Stole (simple past) | “They stole my bike.” | Completed action in the past |
| Stolen (past participle) | “My bike was stolen.” | Used in passive voice or perfect tenses |
| Stolen (perfect tense) | “They have stolen my bike.” | Action completed before now, focus on result |
5. Types or Categories
A. Simple Past Affirmative
Use “stole” alone to indicate a finished action.
- “The thief stole the painting.”
- “She stole the idea during the meeting.”
B. Simple Past Negative
Formed by did not + base verb “steal”.
- Correct: “They did not steal the car.”
- Incorrect: *”They did not stole the car.”
C. Interrogative Form
Use Did + subject + base verb.
- “Did he steal the money?”
- “Did you steal my sandwich?”
D. Passive Voice Context (related to “stolen”)
“Stole” is not used in passive voice. Instead, use the past participle “stolen”:
| Voice | Example | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Active | “Someone stole the jewels.” | Focus on the subject (doer) |
| Passive | “The jewels were stolen.” | Focus on the object/receiver |
E. Past Continuous & Perfect Tenses
- Past Continuous: was/were stealing (ongoing past action)
- Past Perfect: had stolen (action completed before another past action)
Examples:
- “They were stealing fruits when the police arrived.”
- “By the time we noticed, he had stolen the wallet.”
6. Examples Section
A. Basic Past Tense Examples
- “He stole a bike last night.”
- “They stole the show with their performance.”
- “She stole my idea.”
- “The kid stole candy from the store.”
- “A hacker stole the data.”
- “The dog stole the steak from the table.”
- “Someone stole my purse on the bus.”
- “She stole a glance at her crush.”
- “The player stole second base.”
- “My brother stole my shirt.”
B. Storytelling & Narrative Examples
Here’s a short narrative with “stole”:
Last week, a group of thieves stole a famous painting from the museum. They stole it in the middle of the night when no guards were present. After that, they stole a car to escape. The police said the criminals stole over $1 million worth of art that night.
C. Negative & Interrogative Examples
- “She didn’t steal the necklace.”
- “They didn’t steal anything from the shop.”
- “Did he steal your phone?”
- “Did the kids steal the cookies?”
- “No, I did not steal your pen.”
D. Colloquial & Idiomatic Uses
- “He stole the spotlight at the event.” (attracted all attention)
- “They stole my thunder.” (took credit or attention)
- “She stole his heart.” (made him fall in love)
- “The comedian stole the show.” (was the most impressive performer)
- “He stole a glance at the test answers.” (looked secretly)
E. Examples Table 4
| Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Affirmative | “The robber stole my bag.” “She stole the recipe.” |
| Negative | “They didn’t steal the documents.” “He did not steal my phone.” |
| Questions | “Did he steal the money?” “Did you steal my idea?” |
| Idioms | “She stole the show.” “He stole my heart.” |
F. Additional Example Tables
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| steal + money | “Someone stole the money from the drawer.” |
| steal + car | “They stole his car last night.” |
| steal + look/glance | “She stole a quick glance at the answers.” |
| steal + heart | “The puppy stole my heart immediately.” |
| steal + show | “The dancer stole the show.” |
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| “He stolen my wallet.” | “He stole my wallet.” | Use simple past “stole” for past action |
| “She didn’t stole it.” | “She didn’t steal it.” | After “didn’t,” use base form “steal” |
| “Did you stole the money?” | “Did you steal the money?” | Questions in past use base form |
| “The bike was stole.” | “The bike was stolen.” | Passive voice uses past participle |
7. Usage Rules
A. When to Use ‘Stole’
- For completed actions in the past: “The burglar stole the jewels.”
- Do not use for ongoing or habitual actions.
B. Not Used with ‘Did’ in Past Simple
Correct: “Did you steal it?”
Incorrect: *”Did you stole it?”*
Because “did” already shows past tense, the main verb stays in base form “steal”.
C. Not Used as Past Participle
Correct: “The car was stolen.”
Incorrect: *”The car was stole.”*
In passive voice or perfect tenses, use “stolen”, not “stole”.
D. Tense Agreement
Keep past tense consistent in stories:
“He entered the shop, stole the bag, and ran away.”
E. Common Exceptions & Special Cases
- In idioms, “stole” can have a figurative meaning: “She stole the show.”
- In reported speech, tense may shift:
- Direct: “He said, ‘I stole it.'”
- Reported: “He said he had stolen it.”
F. Table 7: Summary of Correct Past Tense Usage Patterns
| Context | Correct Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simple past affirmative | stole | “She stole the purse.” |
| Simple past negative | did not steal | “She did not steal the purse.” |
| Simple past question | Did + subject + steal | “Did she steal the purse?” |
| Passive voice | was/were stolen | “The purse was stolen.” |
| Past perfect | had stolen | “She had stolen the purse before police arrived.” |
| Past continuous | was/were stealing | “She was stealing the purse when caught.” |
8. Common Mistakes
A. Using ‘Stolen’ Instead of ‘Stole’ in Simple Past
- Incorrect: “He stolen my bag yesterday.”
- Correct: “He stole my bag yesterday.”
B. Incorrect Negative Forms
- Incorrect: “She didn’t stole it.”
- Correct: “She didn’t steal it.”
C. Confusing Base Form and Past Tense
- Incorrect: “Yesterday I steal candy.”
- Correct: “Yesterday I stole candy.”
D. Misuse in Passive Voice
- Incorrect: “The bike was stole.”
- Correct: “The bike was stolen.”
E. Wrong Question Forms
- Incorrect: “Did you stole it?”
- Correct: “Did you steal it?”
F. Table 8: Common Errors and Corrections
| Incorrect Sentence | Corrected Sentence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| “She didn’t stole my phone.” | “She didn’t steal my phone.” | Use base form after “didn’t” |
| “They have stole the money.” | “They have stolen the money.” | Use past participle “stolen” after “have” |
| “The jewels were stole.” | “The jewels were stolen.” | Passive voice requires past participle |
| “Did he stole your bag?” | “Did he steal your bag?” | Questions use base form after “Did” |
| “Yesterday, I steal your book.” | “Yesterday, I stole your book.” | Past action needs simple past form |
9. Practice Exercises
A. Fill-in-the-Blank
- Yesterday, someone ____ my laptop. (stole)
- She didn’t ____ the book. (steal)
- They ____ the idea from another company. (stole)
- Who ____ my sandwich? (stole)
- He ____ a glance at her notes. (stole)
- Did you ____ my pen? (steal)
- The thief ____ a car last night. (stole)
- She ____ the show with her dance. (stole)
- I didn’t ____ your money. (steal)
- They ____ important data from the server. (stole)
B. Identify Correct or Incorrect Usage
- “They stole the idea.” Correct
- “Did you stole my phone?” Incorrect
- “She didn’t steal the watch.” Correct
- “He have stole the car.” Incorrect
- “My bike was stolen.” Correct
C. Rewrite the Sentences Correctly
- “He stolen my sandwich.” → “He stole my sandwich.”
- “Did you stole the files?” → “Did you steal the files?”
- “They didn’t stole the money.” → “They didn’t steal the money.”
- “The car was stole.” → “The car was stolen.”
- “Yesterday, I steal your book.” → “Yesterday, I stole your book.”
D. Sentence Construction
- Prompt: (She / purse) → “She stole the purse.”
- Prompt: (They / secret files) → “They stole the secret files.”
- Prompt: (He / money from wallet) → “He stole money from my wallet.”
- Prompt: (Who / my sandwich) → “Who stole my sandwich?”
- Prompt: (Someone / painting) → “Someone stole the painting.”
E. Multiple Choice Questions
- Last week, the thief (steal / stole / stolen) the car. → stole
- They didn’t (steal / stole / stolen) anything. → steal
- (Did / Do / Does) you steal the money? → Did
- The jewels were (stole / stolen / steal). → stolen
- She (has / have / had) stolen my phone. → has
F. Advanced Practice with Contextual Paragraphs
Paragraph with errors:
Yesterday, someone stolen my bike. I asked my neighbors, “Did you stolen it?” They said they didn’t stole anything.
I realized the bike was stole when I got home.
Corrected Paragraph:
Yesterday, someone stole my bike. I asked my neighbors, “Did you steal it?” They said they didn’t steal anything. I realized the bike was stolen when I got home.
10. Advanced Topics
A. Verb Tense Sequences in Narration
Use consistent past tenses when telling a story:
“She arrived, stole the purse, and left quickly.”
B. Difference Between ‘Stole’ and ‘Stolen’ in Passive and Perfect Tenses
- “stole” = simple past (active voice)
- “stolen” = past participle (passive or perfect tense)
Examples:
- “They stole the money.” (active)
- “The money was stolen.” (passive)
- “They have stolen the money.” (present perfect)
C. Irregular Verb Families
“Steal” follows a pattern similar to other irregular verbs with vowel change:
- break – broke – broken
- choose – chose – chosen
- freeze – froze – frozen
- steal – stole – stolen
D. Historical Development of ‘Steal’ and its Past Forms
“Steal” comes from Old English stelan, past tense stal, and past participle stolen. The pattern is ancient and has remained irregular through centuries.
E. Regional and Dialectal Variations
- Some dialects might use non-standard forms like “stold,” but these are incorrect in standard English.
- In slang or dialect, phrases like “boosted” can replace “stole” (e.g., “He boosted a car”).
F. Use in Idioms and Figurative Language
- “Steal the limelight” – attract all attention
- “Steal away” – leave quietly or secretly
- “Steal someone’s thunder” – take credit or draw attention away
- “Steal a kiss” – kiss secretly or unexpectedly
- “Steal home” – baseball term for running from third base to home plate
11. FAQ Section
- What is the past tense of “steal”?
The simple past tense of “steal” is “stole”. - Is “stole” the same as “stolen”?
No. “Stole” is the simple past tense used in active sentences. “Stolen” is the past participle used in passive voice or perfect tenses. - Can I say “didn’t stole”?
No. Use “didn’t steal.” After “didn’t,” always use the base form “steal.” - Why is “stole” considered irregular?
Because it doesn’t follow the regular -ed ending pattern; instead, the vowel changes from “ea” to “o.” - How do I form questions with “steal” in the past?
Use “Did + subject + steal,” e.g., “Did you steal the book?” - What are some common mistakes with “stole”?
Using “stolen” instead of “stole” in past tense, or saying “didn’t stole” instead of “didn’t steal.” - Is “stole” ever used in passive voice?
No. Use the past participle “stolen” in passive voice: “The car was stolen.” - What is the difference between “stealing” and “stole”?
“Stealing” is the present participle (ongoing action). “Stole” is the past tense (completed action). - Are there idioms that use “stole”?
Yes, like “stole the show,” “stole my thunder,” “stole my heart.” - How do I teach the difference between “stole” and “stolen”?
Emphasize that “stole” is simple past (active), while “stolen” is past participle (passive or perfect). Use plenty of examples and contrastive drills. - Can “steal” be regularized in casual speech?
Some dialects might attempt “stealed,” but this is non-standard and incorrect in formal English. - What are synonyms for “stole” used in past tense?
“Took,” “snatched,” “lifted,” “swiped,” “pinched,” “nabbed,” “pocketed.”
12. Conclusion
Correctly using the past tense “stole” is essential for clear, accurate English. Remember, it’s an irregular verb with unique forms that must be memorized.
Regular practice, especially with examples and exercises like those in this guide, helps avoid common mistakes such as confusing “stole” with “stolen”, or using incorrect negative/question forms.
Pay attention to the difference between simple past (“stole”), past participle (“stolen”), and base form (“steal”), and maintain tense consistency in your writing and speech.
Mastering this verb not only improves your grammar but also boosts your confidence in English communication. Keep practicing, review the tables and examples, and soon using “stole” correctly will become second nature!