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I'm proofreading English translations of Spanish scientific articles for journals. The translations are very good, but I keep coming across "allow to" without a subject. This sounds odd to me.

The text says something like "This new method allows to streamline the process". Shouldn't it be something like "allows us to", or "allows researchers to"? I've come across this several times and it's driving me nuts.

RonJohn
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Alberto Gruber
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    "us" is the object of allows, and only implicitly the subject of "streamline". – James K Jul 21 '23 at 18:42
  • Does this answer your question? Allow (to) + infinitive, substantive, verb+ -ing. There must be something about the verb *to allow* that particularly encourages non-native speakers to think allow + to + infinitive (It allows to do something) is valid. It turns up so often among nns that eventually even the natives will end up shrugging their shoulders and accepting it. – FumbleFingers Jul 21 '23 at 20:42
  • "This new method allows one to streamline the process" is neutral tone. It does not limit the process to only researchers. (Engineers, for example, or technicians might want to implement the process. – RonJohn Jul 22 '23 at 03:07

2 Answers2

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Yes you are right. "It allows to streamline something" is incorrect.

You may rephrase with an object "It allows us to streamline...", or you can use a participle phrase: "It allows streamlining of the process".

(The "rules" around infinitives and participles are complex and unsystematic - it's quite possible that Spanish uses an infinitive in this context that English requires a participle)

James K
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  • Thanks James, very clear and well explained. You're right, in Spanish you could use the infinitive after allow. – Alberto Gruber Jul 21 '23 at 20:03
  • Ah. That comment explains why we see this "error" so often here. – FumbleFingers Jul 21 '23 at 20:48
  • @James: You missed the third possibility after *allow* - With a noun phrase object indicating what is allowed, as in Some states do not allow abortion and This school allows the use of computers during exams. – FumbleFingers Jul 21 '23 at 20:53
  • Yes... was wondering whether "streamlining" might actually be a noun, – James K Jul 21 '23 at 21:38
  • @JamesK I think "streamlining" is a gerund in this context, since it both is and can have a direct object (if you were to get rid of the optional preposition "of" - "allows streamlining the process") – Quack E. Duck Jul 21 '23 at 22:47
  • Adding to what James K says: "allows one" can be useful, or in some cases the variant "allowed the author". – Mark Morgan Lloyd Jul 22 '23 at 17:12
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The issue is one of "valency". Generally we do not use "allow" with an infinitive unless it also has a direct object. You suggested two direct objects, either of which would be fine:

This new method allows us to streamline the process.
This new method allows researchers to streamline the process.

By the way, I think that you confused "subject" and "object". In this sentence, "allows" does, indeed, have a subject: "this new method".

MarcInManhattan
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