if he allowed it

[jasonlulu_2000]

He learns to respect Eliza, but it is clear that he will never love her the way that she could love him, if he allowed it.

Why does the author use "allowed" instead of "allows"? What does the underlined sentence mean?


Thanks

 

[SlickVic9000]

(Not a Teacher)

It means "If he allowed himself to love Eliza."

I'd say that it is past tense because it is a 2nd conditional. However, I'll defer to an English teacher on this as I don't consider myself much of a grammarian.

 

[Raymott]

"He learns to respect Eliza, but it is clear that he will never love her the way that she could love him, if he allowed it."

Why does the author use "allowed" instead of "allows"? What does the underlined sentence mean?


Thanks

The underlined phrase is not a sentence.
It has to be in the past tense form because it's subjunctive - contrary to fact, hypothetical.
He hasn't allowed her to love him. If he did allow it, she could love him." This seems to be an analysis of a story. It's not a real state in the world.
If it were still a possibility that he could change, you could write: "If he does allow it, she could love him." But you already know that he doesn't.