Rob and steal both mean ‘take something from someone without permission’.

Rob focuses on the place or person from which the thing is taken:

e.g. The gang robbed two banks over a period of seven months, but were finally caught.

Our local supermarket was robbed early on Friday morning.

A young woman was attacked and robbed as she walked home from work yesterday.

Warning:

When we are talking about a house, we use burgle:

The house was burgled while they were all sleeping.

Not: The house was robbed …

Steal focuses on the thing that is taken:

e.g. The thieves entered the museum through the roof and stole four paintings worth more than three million euros.

Their car was stolen from outside their house last month.

Warning:

We usually don’t say rob + object stolen:

He stole my wallet.

Not: He robbed my wallet.

Reference: Cambridge Dictionary

Choose the correct option. Then check your answers:

1-He _______ a bottle of whiskey from the bar.

a-stole

b- robbed

2- He was stopped and _____ by two armed men.

a-robbed

b-stolen

3- If you leave your wallet there, it’ll be _____.

a-robbed

b-stolen

4-Someone’s____ my watch.

a-robbed

b-stolen

5-They were planning to ____ a supermarket.

a-rob

b-steal

6-She_______ clothes every time she comes to the store.

a-robs

b-steals

7- We have been_______, all our jewelry is gone.

a-robbed

b-stolen

8-They _____ the paintings of the museum and left the door open.

a-robbed

b-stole

9-The thieves were captured while_______ the goods.

a-robbing

b-stealing

10-The gang _____ three banks over a period of six months but were finally caught.

a-robbed

b-stole

Now check the answers:

1- a

2- a

3- b

4- b

5- a

6- b

7- a

8-b

9- b

10-a