forbidden to

USAGE SUMMARY

"forbidden to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express something that is not allowed or prohibited. For example: "The children were forbidden to swim in the lake without parental supervision."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It was forbidden to refuse.

The New Yorker

We were forbidden to pray aloud.

The New York Times

He was forbidden to actually swing.

The New York Times - Sports

So universities are forbidden to "over-recruit".

The Economist

He has been forbidden to leave Ukraine.

The New York Times

He has been forbidden to leave China.

The New York Times - Arts

Women are forbidden to inherit land.

The Economist

Outsiders are forbidden to interview detainees.

The New York Times

"Common people were forbidden to wear silk".

The New York Times - Arts

"Civilians are forbidden to eat eggs".

The New York Times - Books

Today, entry is forbidden to the public.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "forbidden to", ensure clarity about who is imposing the restriction and the specific action being prohibited. For example, 'Students are forbidden to use mobile phones during the exam'.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by clearly stating the extent of the prohibition. Saying 'Parking is forbidden' is less clear than 'Parking is forbidden on the east side of the street'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "forbidden to" functions as a verbal complement, indicating a prohibition or restriction. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and commonly used in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Reference

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "forbidden to" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate that an action is not allowed. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in English. As evidenced by the numerous examples, it is commonly found in news and media, as well as other contexts, demonstrating its broad applicability. When using this phrase, ensure that the context is clear about who is imposing the restriction and what action is being prohibited. While there are many alternative phrases, such as "not allowed to" and "prohibited from", "forbidden to" maintains a neutral register suitable for various forms of communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prohibited from

Uses a different preposition but conveys the same meaning of being disallowed.

not allowed to

A more common and direct way to express prohibition.

banned from

Indicates a formal or official prohibition.

disallowed from

Indicates that something is not permitted.

precluded from

More formal, suggesting prevention rather than simple prohibition.

restricted from

Implies limitations or constraints, similar to prohibition.

out of bounds for

Idiomatic expression indicating something is off-limits.

off-limits to

Similar to 'out of bounds', indicating a prohibited area or action.

impermissible for

A formal and less common synonym for forbidden.

cannot

A simple and direct way to express prohibition.

FAQs

How to use "forbidden to" in a sentence?

Use "forbidden to" to indicate that someone is not allowed to do something. For example, "Children are "forbidden to enter" the construction site".

What can I say instead of "forbidden to"?

You can use alternatives like "not allowed to", "prohibited from", or "banned from" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "forbidden to" or "forbidden from"?

"Forbidden to" is typically followed by a verb in its base form, while "forbidden from" is followed by a gerund (verb + -ing). Both are correct, but they are used differently. For instance, you can say "She is "forbidden to leave"" or "She is forbidden from leaving".

Is "forbidden to" formal or informal?

"Forbidden to" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is generally considered more formal than saying "not allowed to".