What Does “Be Permitted to Do Something” Mean?
The phrase “be permitted to do something” is a passive construction used to express that someone has official or formal permission to perform an action. It is often used in formal or written English and is equivalent in meaning to “be allowed to,” but sounds more official.
Example: Visitors are permitted to take photos in the museum.
Grammar Structure
The basic structure follows the passive voice pattern:
- Subject + be (conjugated) + permitted + to + base verb
Tense examples:
- Present: She is permitted to leave early.
- Past: They were permitted to enter the restricted area.
- Future: You will be permitted to attend the event.
Common Contexts
This phrase is frequently used in:
- Official rules and regulations
- Academic or legal writing
- Signage (e.g., “Smoking is not permitted”)
- Formal permissions (e.g., work permits, school policies)
Quick Quiz
Which sentence is correct?
Practice Tip
Try rewriting everyday “allowed to” sentences using “permitted to” to get comfortable with the form. For example: “You are allowed to park here” → “You are permitted to park here.”