we were not allowed to

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "we were not allowed to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever you need to express that an action was not permitted or accepted. For example: "We were not allowed to question the teacher's decision."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

We were not allowed to play.

The New Yorker

We were not allowed to talk.

The New Yorker

We were not allowed to leave," he said.

The Guardian

We were not allowed to be too strong.

The Guardian - Sport

We were told we were not allowed to move.

Independent

"We were not allowed to pull the A.C. out.

The New York Times

"We were not allowed to the table," he said.

The New York Times

"We were not allowed to have a Christmas tree.

The New York Times - Arts

"We were not allowed to talk about culture, we were not allowed to talk in our language, we were told not to talk about our family.

The Guardian

"We were not allowed to keep a copy of what we wrote," Mr. Eisenberg continued.

The New York Times

We were not allowed to make a sound or be seen".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "we were not allowed to", be specific about who or what imposed the restriction. Providing context clarifies the reason for the prohibition.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect verb tenses with "we were not allowed to". Ensure the verb following 'to' is in its base form. For example, use 'we were not allowed to go', not 'we were not allowed to went'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were not allowed to" functions as an expression of prohibition or restriction. It indicates that a specific action or behavior was not permitted by an authority, rule, or circumstance. Ludwig provides numerous examples of this usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

8%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we were not allowed to" is a very common and grammatically correct phrase used to express that an action was prohibited or not permitted. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s a versatile phrase appearing most frequently in News & Media, but also in Science and Formal & Business contexts. When using this phrase, clarity is key: specify who imposed the restriction for better understanding. While generally neutral in register, context dictates its formality. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "we were prohibited from" or "we weren't permitted to" depending on the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we weren't permitted to

This is a slightly less formal way of saying 'we were not allowed to', using the word 'permitted'.

we were not authorized to

This indicates a lack of official approval or mandate to do something.

we were prohibited from

This alternative uses a more formal term, 'prohibited', indicating a stricter ban or regulation.

we weren't supposed to

This suggests there was an expectation or rule against doing something, though not necessarily a strict prohibition.

we had no permission to

This phrase shifts the focus to the lack of permission rather than the act of being disallowed.

we were under orders not to

This highlights that the prohibition came from a position of authority.

it was forbidden for us to

This alternative is more emphatic and implies a stronger sense of restriction.

we were prevented from

This implies that something or someone actively stopped us from doing something.

we were restricted from

This suggests limitations or boundaries were placed on our actions.

we could not

This is a more general statement of inability, which could stem from a lack of permission.

FAQs

What is a more formal alternative to "we were not allowed to"?

A more formal alternative is "we were prohibited from", which suggests a stricter ban or regulation.

Is "we were not allowed to" grammatically correct?

Yes, according to Ludwig AI, "we were not allowed to" is grammatically correct and commonly used to express that an action was not permitted.

How can I use "we were not allowed to" in a sentence?

You can use "we were not allowed to" to express a prohibition or lack of permission. For example, "We were not allowed to question the teacher's decision."

What's a less formal way to say "we were not allowed to"?

A less formal way to express the same idea is "we weren't supposed to", which suggests an expectation or rule against doing something.