Let English grammar verb Rules

We can use  let  to mean to rent out a house.

We moved to Australia and let our house in London.
A major use of  let  is for talking about ‘allowing’ and ‘permission’.

My mother let me come.
I let her leave early.
One pattern is  let  followed by an OBJECT followed by a BARE INFINITIVE

She let me have the last one.
You must let us know when you are coming to New York.
I didn’t let my friend drive my car.
Why did you let Jane do that?
Another pattern is  let  followed by an OBJECT followed by a COMPLEMENT

Let me past.
The police aren’t letting anybody out of the building.
Don’t let him get away.
Why did you let him in?
Notice that we can use reflexive pronouns to talk about what we allow ourselves to do.

I let myself be influenced by her.
She let herself out.
I didn’t let myself be talked into it.
Did you let yourself in?
Notice that we do not make a contraction out of  let us  when asking for permission.

Let us help you.
Let us pay for this.
Let us buy that.
Let us take the risk.
We use  let’s  when we are making a suggestion.

Let’s go to the cinema.
Let’s stay at home.
Let’s not argue. (formal)
Don’t let’s argue. (informal)
Compare these

Let us watch TV, please. (asking for permission)
Let’s watch TV. (a suggestion)
There are many fixed expressions, idioms and phrasal verbs using  let.

Let alone  means ‘much less’

I’ve never been to Africa, let alone Ghana.
I’ve never met any actor, let alone Brad Pitt.
Let go  can mean to dismiss

My company let 20 people go.
I was let go three weeks ago.
Let your hair down  means to lose your inhibitions.

At the office party, everybody let their hair down and we had fun.
Don’t let it get you down  means to stay cheerful although something bad has happened.

Everybody makes mistakes. Don’t let it get you down.
let you off’/let you off the hook  means that you are excused, even though you did something wrong or had something bad to do.

I made a mess but the boss let me off.
I was supposed to tidy up after the party but I was let off the hook as Sandra did it.
Letting off steam  means to get rid of excess energy or frustration.

After work I go to the gym and let off steam on the treadmill.
We need to go out after the exams and let off steam.
Let me see  and  let me think  are expressions used to give you time to think.

You want a raise? Let me think. Can we discuss this later?
A good place for lunch? Let me see. How about the Italian restaurant?
Let’s say  and  let’s suppose  are used to talk about hypothetical situations.

Let’s say that you were boss. What would you do?
Let’s suppose that we don’t get the contract. What do we do?
Let’s hope  is used to express a hope.