Use of Allow, Let and Permit

Written by Tridev sharma

Allow can be followed by an object + the infinitive, by a gerund, or by anoun. The gerund is used when the subject of the action the gerund describes is unnecessary, as in for general statements.

EXAMPLES

• Her parents allowed her to go to the party.
• Her parents don't allow smoking in the house.
• My parents don't allow dogs.

 Allow, permit and let are verbs that all have a similar meaning: ‘give permission or make it possible for somebody to do or have something’.

Permit is more formal than allow.Allow is more formal than let:

The University has established a Museums Committee to permitmore formal discussion of common problems amongst its museums.

The plan for Heathrow will allowairport operator BAA to build a third, shorter runway.

Will you let me pay for the meal?

Let me show you how to open it. It’s a bit tricky.

Permit/allow someone + to do something

We use a direct object + to-infinitive after permit and allow:

[from a newspaper report about a rugby player]

He has not decided yet whether his leg injury will permit him to play this weekend.

I would not allow a child to havea TV or a computer in their room.

Let someone + do something

We use an infinitive without to afterlet:

[child to parent]

Why don’t you let me go? All my friends are going.

We don’t let employees use the office telephone for personal calls.

Passive with permit andallow

We often use the passive withpermit and allow. Permit is often used for official public notices:

Photography is permitted for non-commercial use only.

[talking about a diet]

You’re allowed to eat as much fruit as you like.

We’re not allowed to put posters on the walls.

Warning:

We don’t usually use the passive with let:

The children were allowed to do whatever they wanted.

Not: The children were let do …