⏱️ 2 min practice • 🔥 CEFR A2

steal

Irregular Strong Verb (Class 4) Level A2 ⭐ #49 Most Common

English translation: to steal / to take dishonestly

Stem Pattern: steal - stole - stolen
💡 Key Usage Note: You 'steal' an object (steal a car), but you 'rob' a person or a bank (rob a person of their money).
📘 Linguistic Rule: Class 4 strong verb: steal -> stole -> stolen. Don't confuse with steel (metal).
⚖️ Steal vs Speak (Class 4 Ablaut Pattern)
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Present Simple

Stealing habitually or currently.

Subject Pronoun Conjugation Audio
I steal
you steal
he/she/it steals
we steal
they steal
💡 Tip: Click any row's audio button to hear native pronunciation
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AI Smart Tutor: 'STEAL' Insights

Linguistic breakdowns & native shortcuts

Smart Tips
🧠 Memory Trick (Mnemonic)

Matches break-broke-broken and speak-spoke-spoken.

⚠️ Most Common Student Mistake
✗ Don't say: They robbed my bicycle
✓ Say instead: They stole my bicycle

Why: You 'steal' the object taken (stole my bicycle), but you 'rob' the victim (they robbed me).

🗣️ Essential Native Idioms with 'steal'
Steal the show

= To win the greatest applause and attention

"The youngest dancer stole the show with her energetic solo."

Steal someone's thunder

= To take credit for someone else's achievement prematurely

"Announcing his promotion at her party was totally stealing her thunder."

🎴 Flashcard Practice Mode

Flip through pronouns to test active recall for 'steal'

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Present Simple
I

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Answer
steal

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Frequently Asked Questions: STEAL

Is "steal" a regular or irregular verb in English? ▾

"steal" is classified as a Irregular Strong Verb (Class 4) verb in English. Its characteristic conjugation pattern is "steal - stole - stolen". Class 4 strong verb: steal -> stole -> stolen. Don't confuse with steel (metal). You 'steal' an object (steal a car), but you 'rob' a person or a bank (rob a person of their money).

What does "steal" mean in English? ▾

In English, "steal" translates primarily to "to steal / to take dishonestly". In natural speech, it is commonly used across CEFR level A2 contexts for everyday communication.

What is the most frequent mistake learners make with "steal"? ▾

A frequent error is saying "They robbed my bicycle" instead of "They stole my bicycle". Why? You 'steal' the object taken (stole my bicycle), but you 'rob' the victim (they robbed me).

What are common idioms or expressions with "steal"? ▾

A popular idiom is "Steal the show" which means "To win the greatest applause and attention" (e.g. "The youngest dancer stole the show with her energetic solo.").

How can I practice and memorize "steal" conjugations? ▾

Use Verbpedia's built-in interactive flashcards, pronounce each form using native Web Speech audio, and complete the instant mini-quiz below. You can also print a distraction-free A4 cheat sheet using the Print button above.

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Quick Practice: Fill in the Blanks

Test your understanding of 'steal' across tenses

Interactive Quiz
Question 1 ()

Which sentence uses 'steal' vs 'rob' correctly?

Other Important English Verbs to Study

be Irregular

to exist / to have a state or quality

go Irregular

to move from one place to another

have Irregular

to possess / auxiliary for perfect tenses

see Irregular

to perceive with the eyes / understand

make Irregular

to create, produce, or cause

take Irregular

to grasp, carry, or acquire

get Irregular

to obtain, receive, or become

come Irregular

to move toward a destination / arrive

eat Irregular

to consume food

run Irregular

to run / move rapidly / operate

know Irregular

to be aware of / recognize

choose Irregular (choose / chose / chosen)

to pick / select / elect

speak Strong Verb (Class 4 Ablaut)

to speak / to talk

bring Irregular (bring / brought / brought)

to bring / to carry toward

think Irregular (thought, thought)

to think / to ponder / to believe

give Irregular (gave, given)

to give / to hand over / to grant

find Irregular (found, found)

to find / to discover / to locate

tell Irregular (told, told)

to tell / to narrate / to order

write Irregular

to compose text / mark letters

read Irregular

to comprehend written text

buy Irregular

to purchase with money

build Irregular

to construct or assemble

grow Irregular

to develop, increase in size, or cultivate

stand Irregular

to be on one's feet / to endure

lose Irregular

to misplace / to fail to win

fall Irregular

to fall down / drop

hold Irregular

to grasp / to contain / to conduct

lead Irregular

to guide / to direct / to be in charge

catch Irregular

to capture / to intercept / to board

throw Irregular

to propel / toss through the air

fly Irregular Strong Verb

to fly / travel through the air

drive Irregular Strong Verb (Class 1)

to drive / to operate a vehicle

break Irregular Strong Verb (Class 4/5)

to break / fracture / violate

wear Irregular Strong Verb

to wear (clothing) / to erode

draw Irregular Strong Verb

to draw (art) / to pull / to extract

shake Irregular Strong Verb (Class 6)

to shake / to vibrate / to agitate

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