allow

allow — verb

1. to say that a person may do a particular action, or to choose not to stop an eve

1.動詞及物B1
釋義

to say that a person may do a particular action, or to choose not to stop an event when you have the power to.

例句

Mrs. Lin allows her students to use dictionaries during the writing test.

allow + somebody + to-infinitive

Smoking is not allowed inside the train station.

passive: be allowed (typical for rules and signs)

同義詞
  • permit

    more formal; common on signs and in legal or written rules

  • let

    more casual; takes a bare infinitive (let her go, not let her to go)

  • authorize

    official permission, usually from someone in power

反義詞
  • forbid

    strong refusal of permission

  • prohibit

    formal; common in rules and notices

  • ban

    official, often public; usually about a whole activity

文法句型

allow + somebody + to-infinitive

allow + -ing verb

allow + somebody + something

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 2: this sense always involves a person or rule giving permission, while sense 2 is about something making an outcome possible. The pattern 'allow + somebody + to-infinitive' is the most frequent shape; the bare-infinitive shape used with 'let' is wrong here.

常見錯誤

❌My mom allows me go out tonight.
✅My mom allows me to go out tonight.
💡'allow' needs 'to' before the verb; only 'let' takes a bare infinitive.
❌The teacher let me to leave early.' (with 'let')
✅The teacher allowed me to leave early.
💡if you want the 'to' pattern, switch the verb to 'allow' or 'permit'.
❌They don't allow to smoke here.
✅They don't allow smoking here.' OR 'Smoking is not allowed here.
💡without a named person, use the -ing form or the passive.

2. to make it possible for a person or thing to do something, or for something to h

2.動詞及物B1
釋義

to make it possible for a person or thing to do something, or for something to happen, often by removing a barrier — for example, a wide window allows light into a room, or a tax cut allows families to save more.

例句

The big windows in Farouk's kitchen allow plenty of sunlight to come in.

allow + something + to-infinitive (cause/enable)

A strong Wi-Fi signal allows hundreds of people to work from the cafe.

subject is a thing, not a person

同義詞
  • enable

    very close in meaning; slightly more formal and often used in technology contexts

  • permit

    can mean 'make possible' but sounds formal in this sense

反義詞
  • prevent

    stop something from being possible

文法句型

allow + somebody/something + to-infinitive

allow + noun phrase

用法筆記

Subject is usually a thing, system, or condition rather than a person. Distinguish from sense 1: nobody is granting permission here — the subject simply makes the action possible. Often paired with abstract nouns (access, growth, movement, communication).

常見錯誤

❌The map allows finding the museum easily.
✅The map allows you to find the museum easily.
💡when the subject is a thing, learners often forget the human object before 'to'.

3. to plan or set aside enough of something — usually time, money, or space — so th

3.動詞及物B2
釋義

to plan or set aside enough of something — usually time, money, or space — so that you have what you need for a particular purpose.

例句

Allow at least two hours for the drive from Taipei to Hualien on Sunday.

allow + amount + for + noun (planning time)

Sofia allowed an extra fifty dollars in her budget for souvenirs.

allow + amount + in + noun (planning money)

同義詞
  • set aside

    everyday phrasal verb; very natural in spoken English

  • budget

    specifically for money or time, often as a verb

  • reserve

    more formal; can apply to seats, rooms, or amounts

文法句型

allow + amount + for + noun

allow + amount + of + noun

用法筆記

Object is almost always a measurable amount (time, money, space, weight). Frequently paired with 'for' to introduce the purpose. Distinguish from sense 1: no permission is involved — you are simply planning ahead.

常見錯誤

❌I allowed to buy some snacks in my budget.
✅I allowed some money for snacks in my budget.
💡this sense takes a quantity as its object, not a to-infinitive.