Published on
April 2, 2025
by
Tom Challenger, BA
Revised on
December 30, 2025
The simple past tense of steal is “stole”
(e.g., “Someone stole my bike yesterday”). The past participle of the verb “steal” is “stolen”
(e.g., “Someone’s stolen my bike”).
Past tense of steal examples
Simple past tense
Past participle
Andy’s mother turned her back, and he stole one of the cookies from the rack.
Published on
April 1, 2025
by
Tom Challenger, BA
Revised on
November 27, 2025
The word about can be a preposition meaning “concerning” or that indicates a topic or subject, as well as an adverb meaning “approximately” or “nearly.”
About examples in a sentenceI need to talk to David about the marketing budget.
Published on
March 26, 2025
by
Tom Challenger, BA
Revised on
November 27, 2025
The word by typically functions as a preposition, indicating who or what performs the action in a passive voice sentence, how something is done, and information such as locations, deadlines, and dimensions.
By examples in a sentenceThe carrots are chopped by this machine.
Published on
March 19, 2025
by
Tom Challenger, BA
Revised on
December 30, 2025
The simple past tense of send is “sent” (e.g., “I sent the package last week”). The past participle of the verb “send” is also “sent” (e.g., “I’ve sent the package; it should arrive next week”).
Past tense of send
Simple past tense
Past participle
The doctor examined my leg and sent me for an X-ray.
My doctor has sent me here for an X-ray.
Our records show that we sent you the bill for your X-ray last month.
The verb “plead” means “ask for something in an emotional way” or “claim something as an excuse.” To “plead guilty” to a crime means to “officially agree in a court that you have committed the crime.”
Past tense of plead
Simple past tense
Past participle
Andre was ill but pleaded/pled with us to let him go to the birthday party.
He has pleaded/pled with me to let him go.
He pleaded/pled innocence, saying that he didn’t even know that I’d baked any cookies.
After he had pleaded/pled his innocence, I found cookie crumbs in his room.
The actor pleaded/pled not guilty to all charges in court last week.
Published on
March 19, 2025
by
Tom Challenger, BA
Revised on
November 27, 2025
The word to typically functions as a preposition (e.g., as a preposition of direction indicating a destination). “To” is also part of the full infinitive verb form (e.g., “to eat”).
Published on
March 19, 2025
by
Tom Challenger, BA
Revised on
December 30, 2025
The simplepast tense of tear
, meaning “damage by pulling into pieces or ripping” is “tore”
(e.g., “After he read the letter, he was so angry that he tore it in half”).
The past participle of tear is “torn”
(e.g., “She’s fallen over and torn her jeans”).
Tear past tense examples
Past tense of tear
Past participle of tear
Mikel tore his jacket playing soccer in the park yesterday.
Have you torn your jacket again?
The flag tore in the storm last week and needs to be replaced.
Published on
March 19, 2025
by
Tom Challenger, BA
Revised on
December 31, 2025
The word with is a preposition and conveys meanings such as “together in the same place as” (e.g., “Keep it with you at all times”), “having/featuring” (e.g., “The one with the polka dots”), and “using” (e.g., “Crush the biscuits with a rolling pin”).
Its part of speech is always a preposition in standard modern English, unlike many other prepositions, which can often fulfil a variety of other grammatical functions (e.g., “for,” “on,” “in,” “to,” and “by”).
With examples in a sentenceI put it here with all the other travel documents.
Who did we see that movie with?
It’s a kind of cabaret with music, dance, and comedy.
