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Klavier Posted 22 years ago
Grammar
Be allowed to instead of can/could
Hi, In which circumstances (tenses) do I have to use be alllowed to instead of can/could for permission? or when I can't use can/could. Give me some examples please.
Top answer
According to Swan, 'be allowed to' is necessary for particular past actions: 'I was allowed to stay up late last night' and in forms requiring the infinitive or participle, which 'can/could' do not have: 'She has always been allowed to do what she liked', ' I'd like to be allowed to stay up late'. An interesting question, Latin-- I hadn't thought about it before.
- According to Swan, 'be allowed to' is necessary for particular past actions: 'I was allowed to stay up late last night' and in forms requiring the infinitive or participle, which 'can/could' do not have: 'She has always been allowed to do what she liked', ' I'd like to be allowed to stay up late'.
- An interesting question, Latin-- I hadn't thought about it before.
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3 Answers
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According to Swan, 'be allowed to' is necessary for particular past actions: 'I was allowed to stay up late last night' and in forms requiring the infinitive or participle, which 'can/could' do not have:
'She has always been allowed to do what she liked', ' I'd like to be allowed to stay up late'.
An interesting question, Latin-- I hadn't thought about it before.
'She has always been allowed to do what she liked', ' I'd like to be allowed to stay up late'.
An interesting question, Latin-- I hadn't thought about it before.
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Thanks Mr., I was thinking about this topic and I wonder about the future, for ex.:
I will be allowed to stay up late, in this tense is it possible to use can/could, for ex.:
I can stay up late tomorrow ...
I will be allowed to stay up late, in this tense is it possible to use can/could, for ex.:
I can stay up late tomorrow ...
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In the sense that 'I will be allowed to stay up late tomorrow' is the same as 'I am allowed to stay up late tomorrow'-- which is the usual usage-- both are interchangeable with 'I can stay up late tomorrow'.
(I can't seem to put permission into a true future-- 'will I be allowed to stay up late tomorrow if I finish my homework tonight?' is still equivalent to 'Can I stay up late tomorrow
(I can't seem to put permission into a true future-- 'will I be allowed to stay up late tomorrow if I finish my homework tonight?' is still equivalent to 'Can I stay up late tomorrow
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