Stold or Stolen – Which is Correct?
When it comes to the past tense of the verb “steal,” many English learners often find themselves in a dilemma: should they use “stold” or “stolen”? To put an end to this confusion, let’s explore the correct form and understand why it is the preferred choice.
The correct past tense of “steal” is “stolen.” Although “stold” may seem like a plausible option, it is not widely accepted or recognized in standard English. “Stolen” is the form that is commonly used by native speakers and is considered grammatically correct. So, when describing a theft that happened in the past, you should always use “stolen.”
To further illustrate the correct usage, let’s look at some examples:
1. Incorrect: He stold my wallet while I was shopping.
Correct: He stole my wallet while I was shopping.
2. Incorrect: The burglars stold valuable items from the museum.
Correct: The burglars stole valuable items from the museum.
3. Incorrect: She stold her neighbor’s car and drove away.
Correct: She stole her neighbor’s car and drove away.
In these examples, you can see that “stold” does not sound natural or adhere to standard English conventions. Using “stolen” instead maintains consistency with other irregular verbs and aligns with the widely accepted language norms.
Consider the irregular verb “break.” Its past tense is “broke,” not “braked.” Similarly, “drink” becomes “drank,” not “drinked.” The conjugation of these verbs demonstrates that irregular verbs often have unique past tense forms that cannot be predicted by regular patterns. In the case of “steal,” “stolen” is the distinct past tense form, and using “stold” would disrupt this pattern.
To solidify our understanding, let’s compare this to another verb: “hold.” The past tense of “hold” is “held.” It follows the same pattern as “steal” by adopting the “-en” suffix for the past tense. Just like “stolen,” “held” is the correct past tense form, and “holded” is not used in standard English.
Language is a living entity, and although some words and phrases may evolve over time, it is crucial to adhere to the accepted norms to effectively communicate with others. Using the incorrect form, such as “stold” in this case, can lead to confusion and misunderstandings between speakers.
In conclusion, when it comes to the past tense of “steal,” the correct form is “stolen.” Although “stold” may sound plausible, it is not accepted in standard English. By using “stolen,” you maintain grammatical accuracy and ensure clear communication. So, the next time you want to talk about a theft that happened in the past, remember to say “stolen.”