Table of Contents
Introduction
In English, prohibition means telling someone not to do something because it is forbidden, not allowed, or against the rules. We use prohibition in many situations—at school, at work, in public places, or in everyday conversations.
This lesson will show you the most common ways to express prohibition in English with clear explanations, examples, and dialogues.
What Is Prohibition in English?
Prohibition is the act of officially preventing someone from doing something. In English, we usually express prohibition with certain verbs and phrases such as must not, can’t, not allowed, or forbidden.
Prohibition can also be expressed with signs like No smoking or No entry.
Common Expressions of Prohibition
Here are some of the most useful phrases:
- It is prohibited to …
- You aren’t allowed to …
- You mustn’t …
- You aren’t permitted to …
- It is forbidden to …
- You can’t…
- No + noun / -ing (e.g., No parking, No smoking, No entry)
10 Sentences of Prohibition
Here are 10 examples of prohibition sentences:
- Parking is strictly prohibited between these gates.
- Students aren’t allowed to come too late to school.
- Drivers mustn’t park their cars here.
- It is forbidden to walk on the grass.
- Smoking isn’t permitted in hospitals.
- People aren’t permitted to throw rubbish here.
- You can’t use this software without a license.
- You must not touch the paintings in the museum.
- It is forbidden to drive without a license.
- No photography inside the temple.
Dialogue: Expressing Prohibition in Conversation
- Security Agent: Excuse me, sir. You aren’t allowed to enter this building without a pass.
- Mr. O’Brian: Sorry, but I have an appointment with Dr. Leila O’Brian. She’s my daughter.
- Security Agent: Could you show me your ID card, please?
- Mr. O’Brian: Here you are.
- Security Agent: Thank you. That’s fine. Dr. Leila is on the third floor. You may take the lift.
Things to Remember
- “Mustn’t” is the contracted form of “must not“.
- “Mustn’t” shows strong prohibition (rules or laws).
- “Not allowed / forbidden” is more formal, often used in official contexts.
- “No + noun/-ing” is common on public signs.
- In everyday English, not allowed to is more frequent than prohibited.
Practice Exercise: Expressing Prohibition
Fill in the blanks with the correct expression of prohibition. Use:
mustn’t, not allowed, forbidden, prohibited, permitted to, no + noun/verb-ing
- You __________ use your phone during the exam.
- It is __________ to feed the animals in the zoo.
- Students are __________ to cheat during a test.
- There is a sign outside the cinema: “__________ food or drinks.”
- Visitors are not __________ enter this room without a special pass.
- You __________ park your car in front of the fire hydrant.
- The sign says: “__________ smoking inside the building.”
Conclusion
Prohibition in English is expressed through specific words and phrases like mustn’t, not allowed, and forbidden. These forms are used to set clear rules, prevent actions, and give instructions. Practice using the example sentences and dialogue above, and you’ll quickly feel confident when expressing prohibition in different situations.
FAQs About Expressing Prohibition in English
Learners often have questions about how prohibition works in English, especially about the words, phrases, and examples commonly used. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions with simple answers to help you review and practice.
What is prohibition in one sentence?
Prohibition means officially not allowing something, for example, “Smoking is prohibited in hospitals.“
What phrases are used to express prohibition?
The most common phrases are:
– You mustn’t …
– You can’t …
– You aren’t allowed to …
– It is forbidden to …
– It is prohibited to …
– You aren’t permitted to …
– No + noun/verb-ing (e.g., No parking, No entry)
What are 5 examples of prohibition?
1. You mustn’t park your car here.
2. It is forbidden to smoke in the library.
3. You can’t enter this building without a pass.
4. Students aren’t allowed to be late for class.
5. No photography in the museum.
What is an example of a prohibition notice?
A prohibition notice is a sign or written rule that tells people what they must not do. For example:
– “No smoking inside the building.”
– “It is prohibited to enter without safety equipment.”
