Be allowed to: Expressing permission across different tenses

Be allowed to expresses permission. It is a passive structure built with a form of be, allowed and a to-infinitive. It can describe permission in the present, past, future and perfect forms.

Examples

Visitors are allowed to take photographs.

The present passive form states what visitors have permission to do.
We were allowed to leave early.

The past form describes permission given in a particular situation.
You will be allowed to reapply next year.

The future form describes permission that will exist later.

Can vs. be allowed to

Can

Can we use this entrance?

Can is common in everyday questions about permission.

Be allowed to

Will we be allowed to use this entrance tomorrow?

The full structure works after will and in other complex tense forms.

Can is common for present permission, while be allowed to is more flexible and often more explicit.

Permission may come from rules, authorities or circumstances

The person or institution granting permission is often left unstated because it is obvious or unimportant. A by phrase can be added when the source matters.

Employees are allowed to work from home twice a week.

The rule or authority granting permission is understood from context.
The children were allowed to stay up late by their parents.

The by phrase identifies who granted permission.

Common mistakes

We are allowed use the kitchen.

We are allowed to use the kitchen.

Allowed is followed by a to-infinitive.

They didn't allowed us to enter.

They didn't allow us to enter.

In an active sentence after didn't, use the base form allow. The passive alternative is We weren't allowed to enter.

Quick check

Question 1 of 3

Which sentence correctly expresses past permission?

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Definition