Posted by Mai on Sunday, June 5, 2011 at 7:05am.
"stealing" - a participle, not a complete verb, so it cannot serve as the main verb of a sentence unless you put a helping verb with it (is, are, will be, etc.).
"stole" - past tense, not correct in the sequence of tenses here because the main verb is in past tense (saw).
"steal/steals" - these are the present tense forms, which is what's needed in this subordinate clause; "steal" is the singular form and is used when the subject is singular; "steals" is the plural form and is used when the subject is plural. So ... what's the subject of THIS verb, and is it singular or plural?
You have 2 choices.
1. steal
2. stealing
Here is one of the best sites to explain verbals. Look at the explanations for infinitives (to steal) and gerunds (stealing)to best understand why:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/627/01/
Sra
Related Questions
ap history - Ms. Sue - thank you for your answer. i understand the second ...
Poem: Young by Anne Sexton - Could you check these answer thanks so much 1. How ...
Psychology - Could someone see if I got any of the questions wrong. I feel that ...
English - I saw many animals such as koalas, a dingo, kiwis, cuscuses, kangaroos...
PHI103 Informal Logic - Assume Mary is forced to let her children go hungry or ...
Psychology - Jan is continuously late for school and has been stealing from ...
English - Expand these notes into fluent sentences. Vary the length and pattern ...
helpmplz - which ststement does NOT describe prescripitivists? A. Language ...
logic - Mary is poor. She has not been able to find a job and has two children ...
psychology and charlene - MY QUESTION after you read the story: Do you agree/...
For Further Reading
