Both mean 'to steal', but one targets the person or place, the other targets the item.
Transitive verb. To steal from a person or place. The direct object is the victim, not the stolen item.
The criminals robbed the bank.
Los delincuentes robaron el banco.
She was robbed on her way home.
La robaron camino a casa.
They robbed him of his wallet and phone.
Lo robaron de su billetera y su teléfono.
Transitive verb. To take something that does not belong to you. The direct object is the stolen item.
Someone stole my bicycle!
¡Alguien me robó mi bicicleta!
He stole a car from the parking lot.
Él robó un carro del estacionamiento.
The thief stole jewelry worth thousands.
El ladrón robó joyas por valor de miles.
Common mistake
Using 'rob' when the object is a thing. Wrong: "Someone robbed my phone." (correct: Someone stole my phone.)
Trick to remember it
'Rob' = the victim is a person or place. 'Steal' = the victim is the item taken. Can you rob a watch? No, you rob a person. Can you steal a bank? No, you steal FROM a bank.
Quick rule
Is the direct object a person or place? Use 'rob'. Is the direct object the item taken? Use 'steal'.
Did you know?
The phrase 'rob Peter to pay Paul' means to solve one problem by creating another. It dates back to the 1300s and refers to the apostles Peter and Paul, not actual theft. It is a common idiom in business and finance.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
Three men _____ the convenience store last night.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
Someone _____ my laptop from the library!
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Is the direct object a person or place? Use 'rob'. Is the direct object the item taken? Use 'steal'.
Using 'rob' when the object is a thing. Wrong: "Someone robbed my phone." (correct: Someone stole my phone.)
'Rob' = the victim is a person or place. 'Steal' = the victim is the item taken. Can you rob a watch? No, you rob a person. Can you steal a bank? No, you steal FROM a bank.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy