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Let's in English: How to Suggest Doing Something Together
"Let's" means "let us" and is used to invite someone to do something together, always including the speaker.
Written by Bryan López, Profesor de inglés · Updated
"Let's" is the contraction of "let us" and is used to suggest doing something together: "Let's go!" It always includes the speaker, not just the listener.
Let's + base verb
Let's (with apostrophe) vs. lets (no apostrophe)
"Let's" (with an apostrophe) means "let us" and is used to suggest something together: "Let's go." "Lets" (no apostrophe) is the third-person conjugation of "let": "He lets me borrow his car." They're two completely different words that only get confused because of the apostrophe.
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Practice let's with real audio
Interactive exercises, real pronunciation, and the full lesson taught in English.
The negative: let's not
To suggest NOT doing something together, use "let's not" + base verb: "Let's not go there." "Let's not tell her yet."
Common mistakes learners make
Writing "lets" with no apostrophe when meaning "let's" (let us). Remembering that "let's" literally means "let us" helps you keep the apostrophe and remember that it always includes the speaker.
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Frequently asked questions
What does let's mean?
"Let's" is the contraction of "let us" and is used to suggest doing something together: "Let's go!"
What's the difference between let's and lets?
"Let's" (with an apostrophe) means "let us." "Lets" (no apostrophe) is the third-person form of the verb "let": "She lets him go."
How do you use let's in a sentence?
With the base form of the verb after it: "Let's study together." "Let's watch a movie."
How do you make let's negative?
With "let's not" + base verb: "Let's not go there." "Let's not wait too long."
What are some examples of let's?
"Let's go to the beach." "Let's try something different." "Let's ask her opinion."
Why do people confuse let's with lets?
Because they sound the same when spoken and are only distinguished by the apostrophe in writing. Remembering that "let's" = "let us" helps you tell them apart.
Practice let's with real audio
Interactive exercises, real pronunciation, and the full lesson taught in English.