Make, let, allow and be allowed to
Make and let + person + verb without to, allow + person + to, be allowed to: they made me wait, she let me go.
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Make someone do something means you force them, or cause it. Let someone do something means you give permission. After make and let + person, the verb has no to. Allow means the same as let but takes to, and be allowed to says what someone has permission to do.
The patterns
Verb | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
make | make + person + verb | They made me wait for an hour. |
let | let + person + verb | My boss let me leave early. |
allow | allow + person + to + verb | The school allows students to use the gym. |
be allowed to | be allowed + to + verb | We aren't allowed to park here. |
Make: force or cause
Make + person + verb says that someone had to do something because another person wanted it. It can also mean that something caused a feeling or a reaction.
- My parents made me practise the piano every day.
- The teacher made us rewrite the essay.
- That film made me cry.
- Onions always make my eyes water.
- Incorrect: My boss made me to work on Saturday.
- Correct: My boss made me work on Saturday.After make + person, use the verb without to.
Let: give permission
Let + person + verb means "allow". Its past is also let (let, let, let).
- Let me help you with that bag.
- She let me use her laptop for the presentation.
- My parents never let us watch TV after nine.
- Incorrect: Our landlord doesn't let us to have pets.
- Correct: Our landlord doesn't let us have pets.After let + person, use the verb without to.
Let's (= let us) is for suggestions: Let's go. It is a different use, on the page about permission and offers.
Allow: let with to
Allow has the same meaning as let, but it is a little more formal, and it takes to + verb.
- The hotel allows guests to bring their dogs.
- My contract doesn't allow me to work for another company.
- Incorrect: They don't allow us use our phones in the exam.
- Correct: They don't allow us to use our phones in the exam.After allow + person, use to + verb.
Without a person, allow is followed by -ing: The museum doesn't allow taking photos.
Be allowed to: having permission
To talk about the person who has permission, use be allowed to + verb. The verb be changes for the person and the tense.
- Are we allowed to take photos inside?
- You aren't allowed to smoke anywhere in the building.
- When I was a child, I wasn't allowed to stay out after dark.
- Incorrect: It isn't allowed to smoke here.
- Correct: You aren't allowed to smoke here. / Smoking isn't allowed here.The subject is the person (you) or the activity (smoking), not it.
Let has no passive: use be allowed to
We don't usually use let in the passive. To say what someone had permission to do, use be allowed to.
- Incorrect: We were let to leave early yesterday.
- Correct: We were allowed to leave early yesterday.Instead of a passive let, use was allowed to.
Make has a passive, but it takes to: We were made to wait. This is less common, and you'll meet it at B2.
Make, let or allow?
- Make: you have no choice. The police made him open the car.
- Let and allow: you have the choice. They let him go.
- Be allowed to: the rule or the permission, from the point of view of the person who has it. He was allowed to go.