let someone do something

Advanced Chunks – Category 7

Meaning

to allow or permit someone to do something

Primary Function

gives permission informally

Communicative Purpose

to grant permission or make a suggestion

Pattern

let

Core Structure

let

Função primária

gives permission informally

Propósito comunicativo

to grant permission or make a suggestion

Situações de gatilho

parenting, informal settings, offers

Contextos

everyday, conversational

Padrão

let

Estrutura central

let

Slots de substituição

object (person) followed by a bare infinitive verb

Colocados típicos

please
just
never
won’t
don’t
let me know
let me see

Substituições comuns

allow someone to
permit someone to

Erros comuns

using *let someone to do; using *let that someone does

Similar / contraste

allow to, permit to, make (force), have (cause)

Interferências

Speakers of languages that use causative verbs like 'make' or 'have' to express permission may overuse those verbs instead of 'let' when granting permission.

Família do chunk

let someone go
let someone know
let someone in
let someone have

Nuance

can convey politeness or firmness depending on intonation; may imply reluctance if said reluctantly

Efeito pragmático

expresses permission or authority; can sound permissive or authoritative depending on tone

Dica de memória

LET someone do it

Nota

Used to give permission for someone to perform an action.

Upgrade path

allow someone to do something

Frequência: Very highFormulaicidade: Semi-fixedTipo de construção: Sentence framePrioridade de aquisição: Automatic productionPrioridade de output: UnknownTag de espaçamento: Short-term

Examples

The teacher let the students leave early after finishing the test.

My boss let me take the afternoon off to attend the appointment.

She let her brother borrow her car for the weekend.

Variations

let’s (first person plural)

let alone