Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
summit; peak; head
top
technology
headway
conclusion
TOEIC preparation test: Word quiz questions: Free Online Noun Adjective Game Answer
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

usage of "allow for"



 
ESL/EFL Worksheets and Handouts for Students Printable, photocopiable, clearly structured
Designed for teachers and individual learners
For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
meaning of "trade in" | Phrase "A close, small head"
Message Author
usage of "allow for" Thu Jul 12, 2007 8:38 am  usage of "allow for"
 

Could I use "allow for" with the meaning "take into consideration"
For example: There are 4 sheets in the file I had to process the other day, but I took into account only the first sheet forgetting about the others. While apologising for this lapse, can I say 1. I'm sorry for not allowing for the other 3 sheets or 2. I'm sorry for forgetting to allow for the other 3 sheets

Which of those sentenses do you prefer? If none of them fits, could you propose your own variant of a reply, please?

Thank you and have a nice day Smile
_________________
Alex

How much upchuck would a woodchuck upchuck if a woodchuck could upchuck ?

(a guy from Russia)
Lost_Soul
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 15 Sep 2006
Posts: 1857
Location: South Park, Colorado, USA

allow for Thu Jul 12, 2007 8:51 am  allow for
 

Hi lost_soul,

Your sentences:

Quote:
1. I'm sorry for not allowing for the other 3 sheets or 2. I'm sorry for forgetting to allow for the other 3 sheets
could, I believe, be expressed more simply as follows:

I'm sorry I didn't allow for ...

I'm sorry I forgot to allow for ...


Having said that, I don't quite follow your use of 'allow for' in your examples. 'Allow for' suggests make preparations in advance in terms of quantity or time as in:

I'm late because I didn't allow for the traffic jams on the motorway

I've run out of sandwiches because when I made them I didn't allow for the the large number of unexpected guests.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Cool Expressions
Alan
Co-founder
Alan Townend

Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 7568
Location: UK

English grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsAre you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!Read these English anecdotes and maybe smile today? Subscribe to free email English courseLearn to use the present simple with the help of this short story
usage of "allow for" Thu Jul 12, 2007 8:53 am  usage of "allow for"
 

.
I see what you are getting at, but I don't think 'allow for' works here. I presume the point is that you processed one sheet but forgot to process the other 3? You forgot outright, but 'allow for' means that one is aware of the situation/item/etc but does not provide the opportunity/time/etc necessary to accommodate it.

If it were a matter of time, for instance-- that is, if you knew you had 4 sheets to process, but only had or made time to process one-- you could say that you 'did not allow for the other 3 sheets e.g. when you promised to complete the effort'.
.
_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mr. Micawber
Mister Micawber
Language Coach
Mr. Micawber

Joined: 17 Jul 2005
Posts: 4633
Location: Yokohama, Japan

usage of "allow for" Thu Jul 12, 2007 9:05 am  usage of "allow for"
 

Hi Alan and Mister Micawber,

Thank you for your replies. Smile I hear you.

While writing I was having second thoughts that using allow for is wrong in that sentense... (but the russian translation I got from my dictionary fits perfectly - that's why I made that choice)
I guess the best variant would be I'm sorry I forgot to process the other 3 sheets wouldn't it?
_________________
Alex

How much upchuck would a woodchuck upchuck if a woodchuck could upchuck ?

(a guy from Russia)
Lost_Soul
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 15 Sep 2006
Posts: 1857
Location: South Park, Colorado, USA

Display posts from previous:   
meaning of "trade in" | Phrase "A close, small head"
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms usage of "allow for" All times are GMT + 2 Hours
Page 1 of 1
Latest topics on ESL EFL Forums
Dim lights?Expression: 'tea leaves at the bottom of your cup'What does "Out of sorts" means?Passage 'the unswallowed water sheathing broken and myriad down his chin'correct my sentencescorrect my sentences (A little girl walked past, her droll dragging behind her)what's the difference between cereals and porridgeWhat does 'which is' mean? (...window ledge of the 85th floor, which is where...)Expression "gutted windows"'having entered' vs 'to have entered'A Phrase "An unexpected happening came"Expression: 'the point to' (What is the point to do that?)the smog was indistinguishable from the seaEnglish word of the French word "h?te"would sooner for the pastHow often do you use the expression "au fait"?Forms of the InfinitiveWhat do you associate with the word "backshop"?usage of "allow for"

Discover English-test.net
What does 'take issue' mean?How to pronounce route?Language students who fighttextual commentrySAT Preparation: Learn English Vocabulary: Adjective Noun Verb Vocabulary ListSAT exam test: Word games online: Free Adjectives Nouns Verbs GameDefine felonious, excrescence, postgraduate, novice, vituperable, bibliomania, moralityDefinition of surplus, shell, exchange, describe, part, freeze, shape, stop, skeleton, arrowFree English exercise: At the ShopsEnglish grammar quiz: English Slang Idioms (144)

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Subscribe to FREE email English course
First name E-mail