Allow past tense

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Meaning of allow

to permit (someone) to have or do something; to permit (something) to happen or be done.

Infinitive

Word: allow /əˈlaʊ/
Examples:
  • 1. He always allows his friends to use his car when they need it.
  • 2. The company allows employees to work remotely on Fridays.
  • 3. Our policy allows pets in the office on Wednesdays.

Past Simple

Word: allowed /əˈlaʊd/
Examples:
  • 1. She allowed her children to stay up late on New Year's Eve.
  • 2. The teacher allowed us to use our notes during the quiz.
  • 3. My parents allowed me to drive their car once I had my driver's license.

Past Participle

Word: allowed /əˈlaʊd/
Examples:
  • 1. He has been allowed to enter the secured area after showing his credentials.
  • 2. The rules are strictly enforced, and no exceptions are allowed.
  • 3. All guests have been allowed to stay until midnight after the celebration.

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Bare infinitive

  1. General facts or truths
    Example. The company allows telecommuting for all its employees.
    Example. He allows one hour every morning for meditation.
    Example. The museum allows free entry on the first Monday of every month.
  2. Habitual actions
    Example. The company allows telecommuting for all its employees.
    Example. He allows one hour every morning for meditation.
    Example. The museum allows free entry on the first Monday of every month.
  3. Fixed arrangements, schedules, or timetables (although more common with verbs related to events taking place)
    Example. The company allows telecommuting for all its employees.
    Example. He allows one hour every morning for meditation.
    Example. The museum allows free entry on the first Monday of every month.

Past Simple

  1. Actions completed at a specific time in the past
    Example. The teacher allowed us to leave early yesterday.
    Example. My grandparents allowed visiting neighbors to stay for dinner whenever they dropped by.
  2. Past habits or states (less frequently used in this sense)
    Example. The teacher allowed us to leave early yesterday.
    Example. My grandparents allowed visiting neighbors to stay for dinner whenever they dropped by.

Past Participle

  1. Perfect tenses Present perfect (actions that happened at an unspecified time before now)
    Example. They have always allowed pets in their home.
    Example. By the time the policy changed, the company had allowed remote work for several years.
    Example. By next month, he will have allowed his friend to stay with him for a whole year.
    Example. The students were allowed to enter the lab only after wearing safety gear.
    Example. If the weather had allowed, they would have gone to the beach yesterday.
  2. Past perfect (actions completed before a certain point in the past)
    Example. They have always allowed pets in their home.
    Example. By the time the policy changed, the company had allowed remote work for several years.
    Example. By next month, he will have allowed his friend to stay with him for a whole year.
    Example. The students were allowed to enter the lab only after wearing safety gear.
    Example. If the weather had allowed, they would have gone to the beach yesterday.
  3. Future perfect (actions that will have been completed by a certain future point)
    Example. They have always allowed pets in their home.
    Example. By the time the policy changed, the company had allowed remote work for several years.
    Example. By next month, he will have allowed his friend to stay with him for a whole year.
    Example. The students were allowed to enter the lab only after wearing safety gear.
    Example. If the weather had allowed, they would have gone to the beach yesterday.
  4. Passive voice (to describe actions done to the subject by someone else)
    Example. They have always allowed pets in their home.
    Example. By the time the policy changed, the company had allowed remote work for several years.
    Example. By next month, he will have allowed his friend to stay with him for a whole year.
    Example. The students were allowed to enter the lab only after wearing safety gear.
    Example. If the weather had allowed, they would have gone to the beach yesterday.
  5. Conditional sentences (to express hypothetical scenarios or wishes)
    Example. They have always allowed pets in their home.
    Example. By the time the policy changed, the company had allowed remote work for several years.
    Example. By next month, he will have allowed his friend to stay with him for a whole year.
    Example. The students were allowed to enter the lab only after wearing safety gear.
    Example. If the weather had allowed, they would have gone to the beach yesterday.

Common mistakes

— 01

Misapplication of Tense

One common mistake is confusing when to use the past simple versus the past participle form, despite them being the same ('allowed') for the verb 'allow.' This confusion often manifests in the incorrect use of 'allowed' in various tense constructions. For example, a learner might mistakenly use 'allowed' without auxiliary verbs in constructions that require them, such as in perfect tenses (e.g., saying 'I allowed to go' instead of 'I have been allowed to go') or in passive voice constructions (e.g., 'The project was allowed by the manager' is correct, but the mistake would be in misplacing the form or auxiliary verb).

— 02

Pronunciation

The correct pronunciation of 'allowed' is /əˈlaʊd/, with a clear distinction between the syllables and a diphthong in the second syllable. A common mistake is mispronouncing the word by not fully articulating the diphthong or by placing stress incorrectly, leading to misunderstandings or unclear communication. Non-native speakers might pronounce it too flatly, missing the nuanced change in vowel sound, or might stress the wrong part of the word.

— 03

Spelling Mistakes

Although 'allowed' follows a straightforward rule by adding '-ed' to the base form 'allow,' some learners might incorrectly spell the past form due to mishearing or misinterpreting the phonetics. For instance, they might omit one 'l' or add unnecessary letters due to the way they interpret the sound of the word, resulting in spellings like 'alowed' or 'allowwed.' Understanding the basic rules of spelling for regular past tense forms and paying close attention to the specific sounds within words can help avoid this type of error.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the past simple and past participle forms of 'allow'?

The past simple form of 'allow' is 'allowed'. This same form, 'allowed', is also used as the past participle. For example. Past Simple. Yesterday, my parents allowed me to go to the concert. Past Participle. I have always been allowed to express my opinions freely.

How do I use 'allowed' in a sentence to indicate past actions?

To indicate a past action using 'allowed', you simply place 'allowed' in the sentence where it logically fits to convey that the action was completed in the past. Here are a few examples. She allowed me to borrow her car last weekend. They allowed their kids to play outside until it was dark. When forming sentences, ensure the subject and verb agreement is correct, and the context clearly indicates a past event.

Can 'allowed' be used in passive voice sentences? How?

Yes, 'allowed' can be used in passive voice sentences. In the passive voice, the focus is on the action and the recipient of the action, rather than who is performing the action. Here are examples using both the past simple and past participle forms. Past Simple Passive. I was allowed to attend the meeting yesterday. Past Participle Passive (in a perfect tense). The students have been allowed to use the library's resources for their project. In both instances, 'allowed' helps to indicate permission was given, with the emphasis placed on the action's receiver.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when using 'allowed' in past tense forms?

A few common mistakes include. Confusing 'allowed' with 'aloud'. Remember, 'allowed' relates to permission, while 'aloud' means to say something audibly. Incorrectly changing the form for past participle. The past participle of 'allow' remains 'allowed'. It does not change, regardless of the sentence's tense. Forgetting to use auxiliary verbs in perfect tenses. When forming perfect tenses or passive voice constructions, don't forget to include the appropriate auxiliary verb (have/has been) before 'allowed'. Mismatching subject-verb agreement in complex sentences. Ensure that when 'allowed' is used in more complex sentence structures, the subject-verb agreement is still maintained.