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Bamtori Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

have / allow

Please help me with this, you great English teachersEmotion: crying

A) We can't have that happen.

B) We can't allow that to happen.

Would anyone tell me what's the difference in these two sentences' meanings? They seem to mean the same thing to me.
  

Top answer

Hello Bamtori, Both these sentences mean the same. Here 'have that' and 'allow that' mean 'to permit'.

— Benita

  • Hello Bamtori, Both these sentences mean the same.
  • Here 'have that' and 'allow that' mean 'to permit'.
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6 Answers
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Hello Bamtori,

Both these sentences mean the same. Here 'have that' and 'allow that' mean 'to permit'.
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Hi,

A) We can't have that happen.

B) We can't allow that to happen.

They are very similar, and can often be interchanged. #1 focuses on permitting something to happen.

#2 can be the same, but can also more uncommonly have the less forceful meaning of 'We can't experience that event'.
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Clive:
Is there a number reversal (1, 2) in your reply?
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I was going to ask the same question!Emotion: smile
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Hi guys,

Thanks for your eagle eyes. I was careless.

I was going to pretend that I did it on purpose, to see if anyone reads these things.
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CliveA) We can't have that happen.
[A, as Clive's mentioned in his last message] can be the same, but can also more uncommonly have the less forceful meaning of 'We can't experience that event'. eg King Charles the First can't have his head cut off
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