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Trees and shrubs

Building sentences with allowed to. How to express permission in English: verbs let, allow, permit. Interrogative sentences with the construction be allowed to in English

Modal verb "may".

Modal verb may is in the past tense might and is used when we ask permission to perform an action. It translates into Russian as "May...?"

- May I leave work a bit earlier today?
Can I leave work a little early today?
- No, you may not. You still have a lot to do.
No. You still have a lot to do.

The form might also denotes a request, but more polite, which is used in relation to adults or little-known people:

- Might I use your telephone?
Could I use your phone?
- Of course, you may.
Sure you can.

- Might I take your bike?
Could I take your bike?
- No, you may not. It's broken.
No. It's broken.

Combined with a simple ( to work) or continued ( to be working) infinitive modal verb may/might also denotes the assumption that an action will be performed or is being performed. In this case the verb may/might translates as "maybe". Moreover, if the verb is used might, then the assumption sounds less certain.

Where is Linda?
Where is Linda?
- She is in her room. She may be doing her homework.
She is in her room. Maybe she is doing her homework.
- And where are her parents?
Where are her parents?
- They might be at work.
They may be at work.

In negative sentences expressing an assumption, a negative particle is used not after a modal verb.

I am too tired. I may not go anywhere tonight.
I'm too tired. I'm probably not going anywhere tonight.

If modal verb may is used with the perfect infinitive (to have + 3 form of the verb), then the assumption refers to the past:

The delegation may have arrived in Washington already.
Perhaps the delegation has already arrived in Washington.

Verb might with the perfect infinitive expresses a lesser degree of certainty:

Mr. Smith didn't sign the documents. He might have forgotten about them.
Mr Smith didn't sign the papers. He must have forgotten about them.

Modal verb "need".

Like a modal verb need can only be used in negative and interrogative sentences. Combined with a simple infinitive need is used to express the need to perform an action with the meaning need, need:

need you do all the work yourself?
Do you need to do all the work yourself?

You needn"t come to the party if you don't want to.
You don't have to come to the party if you don't want to.

In an affirmative answer to a question with a verb must the verb is used need in negative form:

- Must I type these letters now?
Should I print these letters now?
- No, you needn"t. You can do it later.
- No, you don't. You can do this later.

Negative form of the modal verb need (needn"t) in combination with the perfect infinitive is used in relation to the past tense and expresses that the person in question did not need to perform an action:

Jane needn't have to come so early.
Jane didn't have to come so early.

Equivalent to the modal verb "may".

Verb to be allowed"replaces" modal verb may meaning to allow to do something:

Are you allowed to sit up late?
Are you allowed to stay up late?

Verb to be allowed can be used in any tense form that is required by the meaning:

I wasn't allowed to sit up late when I was younger.
I wasn't allowed to stay up late when I was little.

Why don't you go out and play?
Why don't you go play?
-I haven't been allowed to leave the house.
I was not allowed to leave the house.

(For a detailed description of the use of modal verbs and their equivalents, see: Theory. Grammar.

Gerund or infinitive? This question always causes a lot of controversy. Let's try to understand and consider all the cases in which they are used.

There are 2 groups of verbs:

The first of these are verbs, after which both the infinitive and the gerund can be used in the same way.

deserve - deserve;
allow - allow;
bother - disturb;
intend - intend;
omit - miss; do not turn on
permit - allow;
fear - to be afraid;
continue - continue;
like - like;
neglect - neglect, etc.

Pay attention to the constructions that you need to use:

allow + object + infinitive – She allowed me to buy this dress. She let me buy this dress.
allow + gerund – He doesn't allow smoking in the car. – Smoking is not allowed in his car (= He does not allow smoking in his car).

The infinitive and gerund can also affect the general meaning of the sentence to some extent, especially for such verbs as hate - to hate, not to endure, like - to like, love, love - to love. For example, the gerund is used when we are talking about something in general, and the infinitive is used when we are talking about a specific situation.

I hate drawing.– I don’t like to draw.
I hate to lie to him.“I would hate to lie to him.

The second group is represented by verbs, after which the use of the infinitive and gerund gives completely different meanings. This includes verbs such as come - arrive, arrive, forget - forget, lose sight of, regret - regret, remember - remember, remember, keep in memory, go on - continue, mean - mean, stop - stop, stop , try - try, try, etc.

Verb come in combination with a gerund indicates that two actions are happening at the same time.

He came drinking Cola. He came in sipping a Coca-Cola.

While in combination with the infinitive, the verb will indicate some kind of action that occurs without the influence of a person (that is, without a subject).

His actions have come to mean that he has fallen in love. “His actions began to mean that he fell in love.

Verb go on with an infinitive means "go to the next action, to the next stage."

After introducing herself, she went on to explain the advantages of this partnership. After introducing herself, she explained the benefits of their collaboration.

Speaking in combination with a gerund, the verb has the meaning "to continue the action."

She went on speaking for 3 hours. She continued talking for 3 hours.

Thus, in order to understand when it is correct to use the gerund and when the infinitive, you need to remember the above groups of verbs and, of course, the basic rules of use. But later you will have no doubts - allow to do or allow doing?

In one of our recent articles, we looked at how to use modal verbs to express permission. If you want to ask for permission, give permission or forbid, then use the modal verbs can, may, could, might, depending on the situation and the context of communication.

To talk about what is allowed or prohibited, use verbs let, allow, permit. They are all translated as "permit, permit" but are used differently. If we consider them from the point of view of their formality, then let is the most colloquial, and permit is used in formal contexts. Consider the similarities and differences between these verbs.

Let

Verb let translates as "permit, permit" and used with addition(to whom?) and infinitive without particle to:

His parents always let him stay out late. His parents always let him go out late.

Her mother let her go to the disco. - Mom let her go to the disco.

The teacher let me correct some mistakes in my paper. The teacher allowed me to correct the mistakes in my work.

The verb let is usually not used in the passive voice, that is, it is necessary to indicate who exactly performed the action. You can't say: I wasn't let go to a party, it will be right:

Mother didn't let me go to a party. Mom didn't let me go to the party.

Let can only be used in the passive voice in some cases if it is followed by a preposition (for example, with phrasal verbs):

They let me in. - They let me in.
The old man was let through the queue. - The old man was let in line.

Allow, permit.

allow and permit in most dictionaries are presented as synonyms: allow, allow. Therefore, many mistakes are made, since dictionaries do not explain the differences in the use of synonymous verbs. We remind you that permit is a formal verb, it can be found in documents, official contexts. Permit conveys permission without exception, for everyone, and denotes a specific rule or requirement.

Allow is a more colloquial verb. allow more appropriate when it comes to a specific situation, when asking permission to do something. Some may be allowed and some may not.

Although the meanings of the verbs allow and permit are almost the same, there are both similarities and some differences in their usage. Let's consider them.

Let's start with the fact that after both verbs follows addition(who is allowed) and infinitive with particle to:

She allowed me to come in. She let me in.
The teacher permitted the students to leave earlier. The teacher allowed the students to leave early.

It is important to remember that before adding (who is allowed) not used pretext to. You can't say: They allowed/permitted to me. It would be correct to say:

They allowed/permitted me. - They let me.

Both verbs can be used in , in which case the object becomes the subject:

I wasn "t allowed / permitted to enter the room. - I was not allowed / not allowed to enter the room.
You are allowed/ permitted to park on the premises of our company. - You are allowed to park on company property.

Sometimes we don't know who gives the permission. In this case, Russian is spoken "allowed" or "allowed", in English it is necessary to use the impersonal subject it: "It is allowed...". If it is the subject of the sentence, then we can only use permit , since allow is not used with an impersonal subject:

It is not permitted to take pictures in the museum. - Taking pictures in the museum is prohibited.
It was permitted to ask questions during the press-conference. - It was allowed to ask questions during the press conference.

If you still prefer to use allow , then use passive without it:

You are not allowed/ permitted to take pictures in the museum. - You are not allowed to take pictures in the museum.

You are allowed/permitted to ask questions during the press-conference. - You are allowed to ask questions during the press conference.

Both verbs can be used if the subject is gerund:

Taking pictures is not allowed/ permitted. - Taking pictures is not allowed.
Asking questions during the press-conference is allowed/permitted. - Asking questions during the press conference is allowed.

With prepositions and adverbial particles (in, out, over, up, down, etc.) only allow is used, not permit:

They didn't allow me in. - They didn't let me in.
Tom's father doesn't allow him out alone. Tom's father doesn't let him go out alone.

Nouns

Since we are talking about permission, I would like to add a few words about nouns. The verbs we talked about form nouns: the noun comes from the verb allow allowance, and the verb permit has two nouns: permit and permission. The let verb does not form a noun with a similar meaning.

Although the noun allowance comes from the verb allow, it has several meanings. Meaning "permission, permission" is not the main one and is used mainly in formal contexts, as it implies the legality, legality of something. The first and main meaning - "cash allowance, maintenance, pocket money".

Noun permit - permission (usually written, official), which is issued by special institutions:

building permit- building permit
work permit- work permit

Note that the verb permit is pronounced and the noun is ["pɜːmɪt]. Permit is a countable noun, so you can use article A.

As for the noun permission - it's not the "full" form permit as some tend to believe. Permission is permission (but not necessarily written), someone's approval, permission. Permission is an uncountable noun (as opposed to permit), so it is not used. With the word permission, be sure to indicate, who gives permission. This is achieved with:

Your permission - your permission
my father "s permission - my father's permission
the teacher "s permission - teacher's permission

If it is necessary to emphasize that the permission is in writing, then this is specified separately:

written award- written permission.

Compare two examples that illustrate the semantic differences between two nouns:

You must get a work permit to get a job abroad. - You need to get a work permit to get a job in another country.
You must get written permission from your parents to go abroad. - You need to get written permission from your parents to travel to another country.

Now you know what are the fundamental differences between the verbs that express permission: let, allow and permit . Try to remember and practice speech patterns with them, this will help you always speak without errors.

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Since we have been discussing modal verbs for a long time, why not allow? Use this word is very much like one of the meanings of can and may, as it helps to express permission (or vice versa, prohibition) to perform an action.

Allow usage and examples

Usually allow translate as "permit", "permit", "permit", "enable". Use allow reminds us of some modal verbs, since this word does not serve to indicate an action. We should use it to express permission. Pay attention to the fact that to construct questions and negatives with allow you will need to use helper words (which is not required in sentences with can and may ).

It's believed that allow- this is ideal if in your situation permission is given by the person who has authority in your eyes. It can be parents, boss, teacher, senior in rank, etc. Read the following examples carefully to better remember allow and its use.

examples	translation
The executive director didn't allow me to be in charge of the project.	The executive director did not allow me to lead the project.
Will your parents allow us to get married?	Will your parents let us get married?
The teacher doesn't allow us to use cell phones at the lesson.	The teacher does not allow us to use mobile phones in class.
They allow me to go out only after cleaning my room.	They let me walk only after I clean my room.
Does your mom allow you to sleep in on sundays?	Does your mom let you sleep longer on Sundays?

You probably already noticed that after the verb allow the infinitive with the particle is used to. In addition, the use allow allowed at all times.

to be allowed to. Examples

In cases where it is not at all necessary to name a person who allows or prohibits doing something, the phrase to be allowed to. Examples with it can be seen or heard in public places. The role of "person" in such sentences is assumed by the pronoun it.

examples	translation
It is not allowed to speak loudly here.	Loud talking is not allowed here.
Was it allowed to leave the class at the exam?

Repeating the Complex Object construct

Complex Object is a nominative noun or an object pronoun that refers to a person or thing followed by a verb infinitive indicating an action performed by that person.

This construction can be used after a number of verbs, in this lesson we will look at Complex Object with the verbs let/make smb do smth, be made / be allowed to do smth.

Make-force somebody to do something. compel, encourage someone to do something.)

Let-give permission. allow, allow to smb. to do something.).

Read the examples paying attention to the highlighted construction.

The teacher makes pupils/us learn this text by heart. The teacher makes the students/us learn this text by heart.

The parents let their son/him drive a car. Parents let their son/him drive.

The Complex Object after the make/let verbs is a nominative noun or an object pronoun followed by the infinitive of the verb WITHOUT the TO particle.

The teacher makes pupils/us learn this text by heart.

The parents let their son/him drive a car.

Since the construction requires the use of pronouns in the object case, read the table to remember them.


1.I- me	1.we- us
2.you- you	2.you- you
he- him she- her	3.they- them

I will make her clean the room. - I'll make her clean the room.

She can make him go to the theatre. She can make him go to the theatre.

The new teacher never makes us do our homework. - The new teacher never forces us to do our homework.

The father doesn't let me stay out late. My father doesn't let me go out late.

He lets them play computer games all day. - He lets them play computer games all day.

Introduction of verbs used with the Complex Object construction (let/make smb do smth, be made / be allowed to do smth).

Read the dialogue, analyzing the use of the Complex Object construct.

Tom: Bill's parents are great! They don't make him clean his room. They don't make him do his homework.

Dan: Really? But if he doesn't do it by himself they won't let him go out.

Consider the use of the Complex Object construction (complex addition) with the verbs be made and be allowed.

How were these verb forms formed?

be made - the form of the verb make in the passive voice (Passive Voice).

be allowed - Passive voice form of the verb allow. Since the verb let is not usually used in the passive voice, one resorts to the passive form of its equivalent - the verb allow.

be made - someone was forced to do something

be allowed - someone was allowed to do something

Note

Remember to change the form of the verb to be according to tense, person and number. (Present am/is/are made/allowed; Past was/were made/allowed)

He is made to clean the house every Sunday. He is forced to clean the house every Sunday.

They were made to do the exercise again. They were made to do this exercise again.

He was allowed to use Daddy's car. He was allowed to use his father's car.

My cats are not allowed to sleep on the bed. - Cats are not allowed to sleep on the bed.

An exercise

Open the brackets using the Complex Object construct.

Example: The parents (let, she, watch) this film. - The parents let her watch this film.

She (make, he, promise) that he wouldn't tell anyone.
They (be made, stay) at work till 9 p.m. every day.
Don't (let, she, say) these things about you!
Yesterday the student (be allowed, leave) early.
My sister refuses to (let, I, use) her computer.
We (be made, wear) school uniform last year.
Will you (let, I, go) home?
I (be made, go) there two days ago.
He (be allowed, watch) TV all day.

Right answers:

She made him promise that he wouldn't tell anyone.
They are made to stay at work till 9p.m. every day.
Don't let her say these things about you!
Yesterday the student was allowed to leave early.
My sister refuses to let me use her computer.
We were made to wear school uniform last year.
Will you let me go home?
I was made to go there two days ago.
He is allowed to watch TV all day.

An exercise

Make sentences from these words.

to use/ Is it allowed / inside the museum/ the camera?
He /to turn off /was made /on the plane/ his computer.
lets me/ My father/ drive / his car.
at the age of 14/ was made/ He /to earn his living.
me/ makes/ help/ My mother /her cooking.
to enter the cinema/ We/ because /weren’t allowed/ we had lost our tickets.
makes / The sea voyage/ feel sick/ me.
go outside/ You/ let /can/ your baby /without a coat.
late/ I /to come home/ / am not allowed.

Right answers:

Is it allowed to use the camera inside the museum?
He was made to turn off his computer on the plane.
My father lets me drive his car.
He was made to earn his living at the age of 14.
My mother makes me help her cooking.
We weren't allowed to enter the cinema because we had lost our tickets.
The sea voyage makes me feel sick.
You can let your baby go outside without a coat.
I am not allowed to come home late.

An exercise

Rewrite the sentences in Passive Voice.

Example: Mother lets her children play in the yard. -Children are allowed to play in the yard.

The doctor lets the child eat some ice-cream.
Lisa's parents make her do sports.
The teacher let him come later.
John let his younger brother use his iPad.
The coach made the footballer come in time.

Right answers

The child is allowed to eat some ice-cream.
Lisa is made to do sports.
He was allowed to come later.
The younger brother was allowed to use John's iPad.
The footballer was made to come in time

An exercise

Rewrite the sentences in active voice (Active Voice).

Example: We were not allowed to go there. - They didn't let us go there.

The pupils were made to write the test again.
He was allowed to bring this book back to the library on Tuesday.
She is allowed to eat this cake.
Tom is not made to clean the house by his parents.
Children are not allowed to read in bed.

Right answers:

The teacher made the pupils write the test again.
The librarian let him bring this book back on Tuesday.
They let her eat this cake.
Tom's parents don't make him clean the house.
Parents don't let their children read in bed.

Parting

Bibliography

Afanas'eva O.V., Mikheeva I.V. English language grade 8. - M.: Bustard, 2007.
Biboletova M.Z., Trubaneva N.N. English language grade 7. - Title, 2012.
Golitsynsky Y. Grammar Collection of exercises (edition 6). - Karo, 2007.
K.I. Kaufman, M.Yu. Kaufman. English: Happy English.ru / Happy English.ru: 7/8 grade. - Title, 2012.
Kuzovlev V.P., Lapa N.M., Peregudova E.Sh. etc. English, grade 8. - M.: Education, 2009.