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give permission — allow

collocationB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon

to officially or formally say that someone can do something.

Say it like a native

Textbook My manager granted me authorisation to leave early.

Native My manager gave me permission to leave early.

In speech natives 'give permission'; 'grant authorisation' is bureaucratic.

Pattern: give permission (to someone) (to do something)

In use

  • My parents didn’t give me permission to go to the party.daily life
  • In my country, students must get their teachers to give permission before they can use their phones in class.IELTS speaking

Common mistake

✗ She gave me permission for leave early.

✓ She gave me permission to leave early.

'Permission TO + verb', not 'for + verb'. ('Permission for' takes a noun: permission for the trip.)

Common collocations

  • give permission to/for — to leave, for the trip, written, ask for

Don't confuse it

Similar to 'allow', but 'give permission' is more formal and often used in official or written situations.

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