Detailed usage of allow
1、 Usage problems
Allow
I can't allow such a thing.
Allow me to introduce Miss Mary.
We don't allow smoking on this plane.
2. Allow... to enter
Dogs not allowed.=No dogs allowed.
No pets are allowed inside.
3. Giving
How much money do your parents allow you for books? How much money do your parents give you to buy books?
I allowed him £1000 for expenses. I gave him £ 1000 a year for expenses.
4. Acknowledgement
The referee refused to allow the goal.
I allowed as how he was right.
2、 Sentence pattern question
1. allow sth
I can't allow such a thing.
2. Allow doing sth
We don't allow eating in the classroom.
We don't allow smoking here.
3. allow sb to do sth
Her father would not allow her to eat sweets.
They don't allow students to smoke in the class room.
My parents don't allow me to stay out late.
4. allow sb sth; Let sb have sth
He allows his son too much money.
We'll allow you time to answer.
I will allow you 10% off the price if you pay now.
We allow passengers one item of hand baggage each.
Note: When it means that someone is allowed to get something, it can take a double object. If the double object is transposed, the preposition to usually leads to an indirect object. For example:
He didn't allow her any freedom.=He didn't allow any freedom to her. From English Vocabulary Website
3、 Used in idioms
1. allow for
We must allow for human error.
We must allow for his youth.
2. allow of
These facts allow of many possible interpretations.
You allow of no exceptions? You don't allow any exceptions?
The problem allows of only one solution.
The situation allows of no delay. From English Vocabulary Website
4、 The difference between allow and permit
Both can mean "allowed", sometimes interchangeable. For example:
We do not allow [permit] people to smoke in the kitchen. We don't allow people to smoke in the kitchen.
The subtle differences between the two are: allow sometimes refers to passively refusing to oppose, with the intention of allowing or acquiescing in a lighter tone; Permit refers to permission expressed by superiors, rules or decrees, and its tone is heavier. For example:
The nurse allowed him to remain there, thought it was not permitted.
Nothing is permitted; everything is allowed. From English Vocabulary Website
Pay attention to the following two points:
1. When adverbial particles such as in and out are used together, it is customary to use allow instead of permit in English. For example:
She wouldn't allow me in.
2. When the formal subject "it" is used at the beginning of a sentence, use permit instead of allow. For example:
It is not allowed to smoke in the reading room.