Allow for people to ~~

Question

I'd like to ask about a verb 'allow'.A normal structure of 'allow' with its complements is allow + someone + to-infinitive.eg) He allowed him to go out.But, I found this sentence. This allows for people to squeeze in a brisk trek up the mountains every weekend.Is "for people" not a normal structure of 'allow'

Lazzy boy · Accepted Answer

Hi

moon7296This allows for people to squeeze in a brisk trek up the mountains every weekend.

I think it should be put in this way:
This allow people to squeeze in a brisk trek up the mountains every weekend.

Lazzy boy

Futurist · Answer

This allows for people to squeeze in a brisk trek up the mountains every weekend.

The above sentence has a structure that is both correct and commonly used.

This allows people to squeeze in a brisk trek up the mountains every weekend.

When we leave the 'for' out, the resultant sentence is also of a structure that is both correct and commonly used.

'Allows for' is a phrasal verb (a verb consisting of two or more words). When describing the function of the word 'for' in this context, we call 'for' a particle.

An inseparable phrasal verb like 'allows for' acts just like a regular verb. Added particles ('for') usually modify the meaning of the stem verb ('allows'). But, in this case, the regular verb 'allows' has a sense very similar to the meaning of the phrasal verb 'allows for'. Therefore, verb and phrasal verb can be used interchangeably. However, there are circumstances where the sense communicated by the word 'allow' is distinct from the meaning of 'allows for', e.g.:

'Captain Aubrey allows bad behaviour' means that Captain Aubrey permits bad behaviour.

'Captain Aubrey allows for bad behaviour' means that Captain Aubrey takes the possibility of bad behaviour by his sailors into account when making his plans. Captain Aubrey may still censure or punish bad behaviour where he encounters it.

Lazzy Boy's suggestion is not correct. 'This' is a singular pronoun; a singular verb (‘allows' or 'allows for') is therefore required.

Lazzy boy · Answer

Ahh my mistake.

You've taught something new. I thought I knew the answer.

CalifJim · Answer

moon7296I found this sentence. This allows for people to squeeze in a brisk trek up the mountains every weekend.

I don't see any significant difference in meaning between allow and allow for in this case; however, allow for can have a slightly different meaning than allow alone, as explained above.

Not much difference:

This allows people to ...

= This makes it possible for people to ...

This allows for people to ...

= This takes into account the possibility that people may want to ...
___________________

Somewhat more difference:

This allows the metal to expand when heated.
=This makes it possible for the metal to expand when heated.

This allows for the metal to expand when heated.
=This takes into account the fact that the metal will expand when heated.
=This makes allowance for the fact that the metal will expand when heated.

=This [allows / makes allowance] for the expansion of the metal when heated.

CJ

Moon7296 · Answer

Hi, futurist.

I was really impressed by your super-considerate answer.

My friend posted the same question in a different website; nobody answered cleary like you.

Thank you very much again for your awesome answer!

Moon7296 · Answer

Hi, CJ

Because Futurist's answer is sooooooo nice that I thought no more additional answer is necessary.

You made another awesome answer which is very impressing to me. I got the clearer insight into "allow" and "allow for".

Thank you very much.

Futurist · Answer

You're welcome. We aim to please.

Allow for people to ~~

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