allow sb to do sth = allow doing?
 

Hello,

I am writing to ask native speakers if it is common to say "allow doing something". Some reference books say that this construction is possible but its meaning differs from "allow somebody to do something".

So, are these two sentences both grammatically correct and do they mean the same?
- The software allows creating 3d screensavers.
- The software allows us to create 3d screensavers.

Thank you for any ideas.

Re: allow sb to do sth = allow doing?
 

Well, I hope you know that American English and British English are not the same.
In American English, these are permissable:
The software allows us to create 3D screensavers.
The software allows the creation of 3D screensavers.

I don't think this one is correct:
The software allows creating 3d screensavers.

Re: allow sb to do sth = allow doing?
 

Yes it's fine. I checked a concordancer of British and American English. No examples came up in B.Eng but in Am Eng I found :

Family values that allow having a problem without self-denigration...
Public schools in West Virginia allow proselytizing of students by the local ...
The end is open to allow changing the lamp, even if you are using a...
...forbids associating with known feminists but allows kissing your horse.

I'd love to know the full context of the last one!

Re: allow sb to do sth = allow doing?
 

...forbids associating with known feminists but allows kissing your horse.
I'd love to know the full context of the last one![/quote]
Me too!!:)

Re: allow sb to do sth = allow doing?
 

Bread Baker and Susan, thank you.