Permet or Permets? Don't make the mistake again!

What is the correct conjugation of the verb "permettre" in the first person present tense?

Should I write "I allow" or "I permit"?

What happens if we add the complement pronoun "me"?

Should I write "je me permets" or "je me permet"?

What to choose between Permit and Allow

Nature of the verb "to allow

It is a 3rd group verb (it ends neither in ER like those in the first group, nor in IR like those in the second group).

Conjugation of the verb to allow in the present tense

I allows,

You allows,

He/She/it allows,

We allow it,

Allow me,

He/She/it allows,

They make it possible.

There's no doubt that "I allow" is an unacceptable spelling error!

But writing "This gives me the opportunity to tell you..." is quite the opposite. allowed!

Allowing is a direct transitive verb, i.e. it can directly introduce a direct object complement.

"I allow something".

It conjugates with the auxiliary to have I allowed him to return to us" (example in the past tense).

Allowing is a indirect transitive verb when it introduces an indirect object complement (IOC), as in "I allowed him to ask me for help if he needed it", which means "I allowed this gentleman or lady...".

The "me", a personal pronoun, makes the word allow a pronominal verb. But that doesn't change its conjugation.

It is then conjugated with the auxiliary to be : "I allowed myself".

How do you use "permets" in a cover letter?

For example:

  •  
  • "Dear Sir/Madam, I'm sending you my CV after discovering your recruitment advert... "
  • "Sir, I would like to send you my application for the position of Sales Manager..."

Note that if you "allow yourself" to do something (like you allowed yourself to go out during the COVID period), you might as well be direct and say "Dear Sir or Madam, I'm sending you my CV...".

It's straightforward and will save you any unnecessary spelling mistakes!

The pronominal form "Je me suis permis" is often a source of errors.

  •  
  • "Did I allow myself or did I allow myself?"

Even if you're a woman, you'll say "I took the liberty of sending you my CV...".

Why is this? A little grammatical analysis is in order.

You mustn't give in to the urge to agree the gender and number of the subject. Which is a mistake, because in this sentence, "me" is an indirect object, so "permis" remains invariable.

Which verbs are conjugated like allow?

admit

commit

compromise

cancel

dismiss

send

go to

omit

promise

readmit

retransmit

return

transmit

submit

teletransmit

send

but also :

commit

compromise

step down

interfere

stand

afford

promise

recover

submit

be passed on

Licence or permit?

Past participle of the verb to allow

Permis, permise (in the feminine singular) or permises (in the feminine plural) are the only correct forms.

For example: "the outings I allowed myself were very pleasant".

Did you like this article? Here are some others articles on how to write faultless French.


Key points to remember from this article

This article entitled "Permet ou Permets? Explains the correct conjugation of the verb "permettre" in the first person present tense. The correct form is "I allow".. The article points out that "I allow" is a spelling error. He also explains that the pronoun complement "me" does not change the conjugation of the verb. The verb "to allow" can be used directly with a direct object complement or indirectly with an indirect object complement. The article gives examples of its use in a letter of motivation and presents other verbs that conjugate in the same way as "permettre". Finally, it explains how to agree the past participle of the verb "permettre".

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