were allowed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were allowed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that permission was granted in the past for someone to do something. Example: "The students were allowed to leave early on the last day of school."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

No cameras were allowed.

The New Yorker

But substitutions were allowed.

The New York Times - Sports

The condemned were allowed umbrellas.

The New Yorker

Billboards were allowed, then banned.

The New York Times

Ethnic minorities were allowed more.

The Economist

Only whites were allowed inside.

The New York Times

No rehearsals were allowed.

The New York Times

Second helpings were allowed.

The New York Times - Arts

No amendments were allowed.

The New York Times

All were allowed to compete as women.

The New York Times - Sports

Men were allowed to be cocky.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were allowed" to clearly and directly state that permission was granted in the past. Ensure the context specifies who granted the permission and under what conditions.

Common error

Avoid using "was allowed" when referring to a plural subject. Ensure the verb "were" agrees with plural nouns (e.g., "The students were allowed").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were allowed" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject received permission or was granted the opportunity to do something. This grammatical structure emphasizes the action performed on the subject, rather than the actor performing the action. Ludwig examples show its usage in various contexts, confirming its broad applicability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

35%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were allowed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction that expresses permission granted in the past. Ludwig AI analysis confirms that the phrase commonly appears in news and scientific contexts. To ensure correct usage, maintain subject-verb agreement and consider "were permitted" or "were authorized" as alternatives to vary your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were permitted

A direct synonym, emphasizing formal authorization.

were authorized

Implies official approval or sanction.

were granted permission

More explicit, specifying the act of granting permission.

had authorization

Focuses on the state of possessing authorization.

were given leave

Suggests formal consent, often for absence or specific actions.

were entitled

Implies a right or established privilege.

were enabled

Suggests providing the means or opportunity.

were sanctioned

Implies official endorsement or approval, often with a moral dimension.

were empowered

Suggests giving authority or control.

were cleared

Implies overcoming obstacles or gaining approval after scrutiny.

FAQs

How can I use "were allowed" in a sentence?

The phrase "were allowed" indicates that permission was granted in the past. For example: "The visitors "were allowed to" enter the museum after hours."

What are some alternatives to saying "were allowed"?

You can use alternatives like "were permitted", "were authorized", or "were granted permission" depending on the context and level of formality.

Is it correct to say "was allowed" instead of "were allowed"?

"Was allowed" is used with singular subjects, while "were allowed" is used with plural subjects. For example, "He was allowed to leave early," but "They "were allowed to" leave early."

What is the difference between "were allowed" and "were supposed to"?

"Were allowed" indicates permission, while "were supposed to" indicates an expectation or obligation. For example, "The children "were allowed to" play outside," but "The children "were supposed to" do their homework."