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ESL forum > Grammar and Linguistics > Doubts in grammar....    

Doubts in grammar....



chibini
French Polynesia

Doubts in grammar....
 
Hi everybody,
 
I have difficulties in explaining the difference between could and were allowed to, and also between couldn �t and weren �t allowed to. I believe they can �t replace each other.
Both express the permission or the interdiction.
 
Thanks folks for your help :)
 
Chibini.

5 Dec 2012      





Apodo
Australia

allowed to is linked with permission.
could is linked with ability
They are not exactly interchangeable but see the example below about smoking.
 
I wasn �t allowed to go (my Mum wouldn �t let me)
 
I couldn �t go because I promised to visit my grandmother that day. (unable to go because I was somewhere else)
 
I couldn �t go because my parents didn �t give me permission.
 
I wasn �t allowed to go.  (lack of permission is implied)
 
Can I smoke in here? No. Sorry Smoking is only allowed outside. / No. But you can smoke outside.
 
Am I allowed to smoke in here? No, you �re not. But you are allowed to / can smoke outside.
 
 

5 Dec 2012