BE ALLOWED TO instead of CAN, COULD, MAY

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 346.

Permission and prohibition: can, could, may, be allowed to

CAN is used:

l) (not) to give someone permission to do something.

You can(not) go with me.

2) to say that someone is(n't) allowed to do something.

Students can(not)take a year away from university.

3) to ask for permission

Can I borrow your book?

COULD is used:

1) to say that someone was(n't) allowed to do something in the past.

We could(n't) go to any part of the island we wanted.

2) to ask for permission.

Could I ask you a personal question? (Could is more polite than can)

MAY is used:

1) to say that someone was(n't) allowed to do something

They may (not) do exactly as they like.

2) to ask for permission

May I make a suggestion? (May is more formal than can and could)

We use am/is/are allowed to to talk about things that are already permitted or not permitted (when there is a law or a rule).

You are allowed to get married in Britain when you are 16. (That's the law.)

The children were allowed to go to bed late. (Their parents have decided this.)

We use was /were allowed to to say that someone had (didn't have) permission to do something in a particular past situation.

He was(n't) allowed to borrow his father's car last weekend.

We use will be allowed to to say that someone will (not) have permission to do something in the future.

When Mr. Wilt asks to see a solicitor, he will (not) be allowed to see one.

We use be allowed for Present/Past Perfect.

He has just been allowed to go home after three hours at the police station.