54.3 Stating that permission is withheld
To withhold permission, use expressions like the following:
no‘no’
perdone(a)/lo siento, pero.. .‘I’m sorry, but.. .’
no poder+ infinitive ‘cannot’/’may not’
prohibir+ infinitive ‘to forbid’
está prohibido‘it’s forbidden/prohibited’
no está permitido‘it’s not allowed/permitted’
¿Te importa que fume? – Lo siento/perdona, pero me molesta el
humo.
Do you mind if I smoke? – I’m sorry, but smoke bothers me.
Se prohibe fumar.
No smoking.
Perdone señor, pero aquí no puede entrar.
I’m sorry sir, but you can’t go in here.¿Se puede aparcar en la plaza? – No, no se puede, está prohibido.
Can you park in the square? – No, you can’t, it’s forbidden.
Signs normally use the word prohibido, followed by an infinitive, signalling that
which is forbidden, for example:Prohibido aparcar. Parking not allowed.
Prohibido fumar. Smoking not allowed.SEEKING AND GIVING PERMISSION 54.3