Let

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.