Missing preposition: allow (to) do

Writers often drop the small word to after allow and end up with unclear or ungrammatical lines: My boss allow me leave early. The usual fix is tiny: use the pattern allow + object + to + verb (allow someone to do something). Below are clear rules, many wrong/right pairs across work, school, and casual contexts, quick rewrite templates, and fast editing tricks.

Quick answer

Use: allow + object + to + base verb (allow someone to do something). If you see allow followed by an object and then a bare verb, insert to. Common exceptions: passive permission (be allowed to), allow for + noun, and allow + -ing when meaning "make room for" or "permit an activity."

Grammar note: the construction

Active permission normally takes the to-infinitive: subject + allow + object + to + verb. Examples below follow that pattern. In passive sentences the construction flips: object becomes subject and keeps to (be allowed to + verb).

Active: They allow employees to leave early.
Passive: Employees are allowed to leave early.
Different senses:
- allow for + noun: The schedule allows for delays.
- allow + -ing (different meaning): The program allows saving data offline.

Spacing and hyphenation note

Confusion sometimes comes from typing quickly or treating multiword items as single tokens. There is no hyphenation issue with allow + to: the problem is a missing small word, not spacing or a compound form. Fixing the sentence usually requires inserting the one-word preposition to.

Real usage: work, school, and casual examples

Below are realistic contexts with the typical missing-to error (Wrong) and the corrected sentence (Right).

Work 1 - Wrong: The manager allow us submit the report early. Right: The manager allows us to submit the report early.
Work 2 - Wrong: They allow interns leave at four on Fridays. Right: They allow interns to leave at four on Fridays.
Work 3 - Wrong: The policy allow employees access to remote tools. Right: The policy allows employees to access remote tools.
School 1 - Wrong: The professor allow students retake the quiz. Right: The professor allows students to retake the quiz.
School 2 - Wrong: The lab rules allow you bring personal devices. Right: The lab rules allow you to bring personal devices.
School 3 - Wrong: The coach allow the team skip practice tomorrow. Right: The coach allows the team to skip practice tomorrow.
Casual 1 - Wrong: My parents allow me stay out later on weekends. Right: My parents allow me to stay out later on weekends.
Casual 2 - Wrong: She allow him drive her car. Right: She allows him to drive her car.
Casual 3 - Wrong: Friends allow each other borrow books. Right: Friends allow each other to borrow books.

Wrong vs right examples you can copy

Six quick pairs that make the correction visible immediately.

Wrong: My parents allow me use the car on weekends.
Right: My parents allow me to use the car on weekends.
Wrong: The teacher allows us ask questions during the lecture.
Right: The teacher allows us to ask questions during the lecture.
Wrong: The app allow users customize notifications.
Right: The app allows users to customize notifications.
Wrong: He allow his kids watch TV after homework.
Right: He allows his kids to watch TV after homework.
Wrong: The system allow admins change settings.
Right: The system allows admins to change settings.
Wrong: We allow volunteers help at events.
Right: We allow volunteers to help at events.

How to fix your own sentence (rewrite help)

Don't just drop in the word to - read the full sentence for tone and flow. A small structural rewrite sometimes reads more naturally than a literal insertion.

Step 1: Identify the subject, the verb allow, and the intended action (the verb after the object).
Step 2: Insert to between the object and the verb: allow + object + to + verb.
Step 3: Reread and adjust verb tense or voice if needed (e.g., add -s for subject agreement or switch to passive).

Rewrite 1: Original: This plan is allow us finish early.
Rewrite: This plan allows us to finish early.
Rewrite 2: Original: Are you allow him borrow the toolkit?
Rewrite: Are you allowing him to borrow the toolkit? / Do you allow him to borrow the toolkit?
Rewrite 3: Original: The policy allow staff overtime.
Rewrite: The policy allows staff to work overtime.

A simple memory trick

Link form to meaning. If permission to perform an action follows allow, picture a tiny arrow (→) that points from the object to the action: allow object → to verb. That visual cue helps you remember the small but necessary word.

If the missing word would introduce the action, it's probably to.
If you prefer a different structure, try let (let someone do something) or rephrase with a modal (can, may) or be allowed to.
Search your drafts for "allow " and scan the next two words to catch the error in bulk.

Similar mistakes to watch for

Related confusions often show up nearby. Scan for these patterns when you check for missing to.

let takes a bare infinitive: Let her go. (No to.)
make (causative) takes a bare infinitive: She made him apologize. (No to.)
permit uses the same pattern as allow: Permit someone to do something.
Mix-ups with -ing: allow + -ing often means "make room for" (The plan allows building a deck.)

FAQ

Do I always need to use 'to' after allow?

In active permission sentences, yes: allow + object + to + base verb. Exceptions include allow for + noun and allow + -ing in a different sense, or when you replace allow with let or make.

Is 'allowed to' correct in passive voice?

Yes. Passive permission keeps to: Students are allowed to resubmit their work.

Why does 'let' not need 'to' while 'allow' does?

Let is a different verb that takes a bare infinitive (let someone do something). Allow requires the to-infinitive in standard English: allow someone to do something.

How can I fix missing 'to' errors quickly in my writing?

Find instances of allow and read the following words. If an object is followed immediately by a base verb (leave, do, use), insert to. Or rephrase: use let, be allowed to, or a modal where appropriate.

Can I use 'permit' to avoid the issue?

Permit follows the same pattern as allow (permit someone to do something), so it doesn't avoid the need for to. Use let or a different structure if you want a bare infinitive.

Quick test / Try your sentence

Paste a suspect sentence into a quick editor or run a find for "allow " and check the next words. If the object is immediately followed by a bare verb, insert to or rewrite. For a fast check, paste one sentence into a grammar widget below.