Permission can apply to the present, past or future.

The idea

Use a form of be + allowed to + the base verb. Change be for the subject and time: is allowed to, was allowed to or will be allowed to. Put not after be for prohibition; invert the subject and be for a question.

Examples

  • I am allowed to work from home on Fridays.
  • Visitors are not allowed to feed the birds.
  • Were you allowed to stay out late as a child?
  • Mina was allowed to borrow the camera yesterday.
  • We will be allowed to enter after the inspection.
  • Are students allowed to use calculators in this exam?
  • Leo was not allowed to swim before the lifeguard arrived.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic English voice on your device. Quality and availability vary; it does not assess pronunciation.

Watch out

Do not omit to before the main verb. Not allowed to means prohibited, not merely unnecessary.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct option. Yesterday, Ana ___ allowed to leave early. (was / is)

    Show answer or example answer

    was

    was matches the past time word yesterday and the singular subject.

  2. Choose the correct option. Next week, we will ___ allowed to park here. (be / are)

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    be

    be follows will in the future form.

  3. Choose the correct option. The sign says we are not allowed ___ touch the exhibits. (to / for)

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    to

    to connects permission to the base verb touch.

  4. Choose the correct option. ___ visitors allowed to take photos now? (Are / Were)

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    Are

    Are begins a present question about plural visitors.

Use it today

Write a sentence about a past permission and a question about a future permission.