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FRENCH VERB

permettre

to allow

  • #83 most used
  • Irregular -re verb
  • Past participle: permis
  • Present participle: permettant

Conjugation

Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.

Present

Présent · now, habits and facts

  1. je I allow
  2. tu you allow
  3. il, elle, on he/she allows
  4. nous we allow
  5. vous you allow
  6. ils, elles they allow

Past

Passé composé · finished actions

  1. je I allowed
  2. tu you allowed
  3. il, elle, on he/she allowed
  4. nous we allowed
  5. vous you allowed
  6. ils, elles they allowed

Imperfect

Imparfait · “used to” and “was …ing”

  1. je I used to allow
  2. tu you used to allow
  3. il, elle, on he/she used to allow
  4. nous we used to allow
  5. vous you used to allow
  6. ils, elles they used to allow

Future

Futur simple · plans; in speech, “je vais parler” is just as common

  1. je I will allow
  2. tu you will allow
  3. il, elle, on he/she will allow
  4. nous we will allow
  5. vous you will allow
  6. ils, elles they will allow

Conditional

Conditionnel · “would”, polite requests

  1. je I would allow
  2. tu you would allow
  3. il, elle, on he/she would allow
  4. nous we would allow
  5. vous you would allow
  6. ils, elles they would allow

Present subjunctive

Subjonctif présent · wishes, doubts, “il faut que …”

  1. je (that) I allow
  2. tu (that) you allow
  3. il, elle, on (that) he/she allow
  4. nous (that) we allow
  5. vous (that) you allow
  6. ils, elles (that) they allow

Imperative

Impératif · requests and orders

  1. tu allow!
  2. nous allow! (let’s)
  3. vous allow! (plural, or formal)

How to use permettre

One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.

  1. Present

    Ce badge vous permet d'entrer par le parking.

    This badge lets you enter through the car park.

  2. Past

    Le médecin m'a permis de reprendre le sport.

    The doctor allowed me to take up sport again.

  3. Imperfect

    Mes parents ne me permettaient pas de sortir tard.

    My parents didn't allow me to stay out late.

  4. Future

    Ce train nous permettra d'arriver avant midi.

    This train will allow us to arrive before noon.

  5. Conditional

    Un peu d'économies me permettrait de voyager plus.

    A few savings would let me travel more.

  6. Present subjunctive

    Il faut que ton chef te permette de partir tôt.

    Your boss has to let you leave early.

  7. Imperative

    Permettez-moi de vous aider avec vos valises.

    Allow me to help you with your suitcases.

Good to know

  • Permettre à quelqu'un de faire : ses parents lui permettent de sortir.
  • Vous permettez ? is a polite "may I ?"; le permis is the driving licence.

Verbs like this one

The same pattern, on other verbs: irregular -re verb.