SpeakUp

Grammar fix

give permission

allow

to officially or formally say that someone can do something.

collocationB1common

Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

  • 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

Fix the pattern

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

WrongShe gave me permission for leave early.

RightShe gave me permission to leave early.

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

Patterngive permission (to someone) (to do something)

Use it right

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff My manager granted me authorisation to leave early.

Natural My manager gave me permission to leave early.

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

Build natural chunks

Words that usually travel with it.

  • give permission to/for
    to leavefor the tripwrittenask for

Don't confuse it

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

Try it in Daily Speak →