"Was allowed to" versus "Could"
Advanced Grammar in Use: Third Edition by Martin Hewings, Published by Cambridge Press, Copyright 2015, Unit 15 page 30.
Even though I have provided the reference, I would prefer that you not look at the source reference and instead just answer this question using your own natural speech.
While I encourage anyone to reply, I am particularly interested in the responses by a native British speaker. I want to compare my responses with those of a British speaker.
Please consider the following four sentences, and let me know which, if any, are acceptable.
1. Anyone was allowed to fish in the lake when the council owned it.
2. Anyone could fish in the lake when the council owned it.
3. Although he didn't have a ticket, Ned was allowed to come in.
4. Although he didn't have a ticket, Ned could to come in.
5. Although he didn't have a ticket, Ned could come in. (This is an edit after CalifJim spotted the typo in Sentence 4.)
Top answer
I speak American English, but I doubt there's any difference in this case between AmE and BrE. 1 and 2 are equivalent and both are correct. 3 is also OK.
- I speak American English, but I doubt there's any difference in this case between AmE and BrE.
- 1 and 2 are equivalent and both are correct.
- 3 is also OK.
- 4 is faulty.
- It's "Ned could come in" (no "to").
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I speak American English, but I doubt there's any difference in this case between AmE and BrE.
1 and 2 are equivalent and both are correct. 3 is also OK.
4 is faulty. It's "Ned could come in" (no "to"). But even with that correction, 4 is not possible because 'could' can't be used to convey the idea of success at doing something.
CJ
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