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Likes, abilities and requests, part 5 of 6

Let's: How to Suggest Doing Something Together (Let's Go!)

Let's + the base verb suggests doing something together: Let's go, Let's eat. To suggest not doing it: Let's not wait.

A1 · 12 minBefore:Can I...? Can you...?

The idea

What let's is

It is the way to suggest something you do together. It goes with the base verb.

  1. It includes you. You and the others: Let's go.
  2. The base verb. No to: Let's dance.
  3. Let's not for no. Let's not fight.

When to use it

To suggest plans, start something as a group, and politely say better not. These expressions go with it:

To get started

  • Let's go!
  • Let's start.
  • Let's see.
  • Let's eat!

To answer

  • Good idea!
  • Sounds good.
  • Why not?
  • I'd rather not.

Plans

  • Let's eat out.
  • Let's meet at six.

Examples

  • Suggesting a plan

    Let's watch a movie tonight.

  • In class

    Let's open our books.

  • The negative

    Let's not tell Mom.

  • When you are hungry

    Let's order a pizza.

  • Traveling

    Let's take a taxi.

  • With friends

    Let's play soccer after school.

How to build it

3 steps

  1. Start with Let'sIt includes you and the others:Let's
  2. Add the base verbNo to and no -ing:Let's eat.
  3. Negative: not after let'sTo suggest not doing something:Let's not eat here.

Suggestion

  1. Let'sLet's
  2. base verbcall
  3. complementGrandma.

Negative

  1. Let's notLet's not
  2. base verbwait
  3. complementfor the bus.

The rule

How to answer

AnswerIn EnglishWhen
YesOK, let's do it.you agree
NoNo, let's not.you say no
Another ideaLet's go tomorrow instead.you suggest something else

Let's or let me

EnglishWho does it
Let's carry the box.We both do it
Let me carry the box.I do it

How to pronounce it

  • let's

    /lɛts/

    One syllable: /lɛts/.

  • let's not

    /lɛts nɑt/

    Not is stressed: it is the news.

Check

It's late. (blank) home. Which one goes in the blank?

Don't confuse it with Would you like to...?

Let's go to the zoo.

A plan for both

Would you like to go to the zoo?

An invitation

Let's eat out suggests a plan for both of you. Would you like to eat out? invites and asks if the other person wants to.

Part 2: would like

In real life

Let's is short for let us. Let us appears mostly in formal texts or in phrases like Let us know.

Frequently asked questions

Is it Let's not or Don't let's?

Let's not is the usual form: Let's not wait. Don't let's is heard sometimes, mostly in Britain, but rarely in the US.

Is Shall we the same as let's?

Shall we...? also suggests, but it is more formal and more British: Shall we go? In the US people say Let's go or Do you want to go?

Can let's be for one person?

No: it always includes you and the others. To offer to do something yourself, use Let me: Let me help you.

In short

  • To suggest something together: Let's + base verb.
  • No to and no -ing: Let's go, not let's to go.
  • Negative: Let's not wait.
  • To do it yourself: Let me help you.
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By Bryan López ·
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