Base
Do your parents let you stay out until ten?
After do, the verb stays in its base form: let.
Past Tense of Let: Let, Let, Let
Let is an irregular verb with three identical forms: let, let, let. Only the time words and helpers show whether the sentence is present or past.
Base
let
Past
let
Past participle
let
Third person: lets · -ing form: letting
AAA: form patternExamples
Base
Please let me help you.
After let me, the next verb has no to.
Past
She let the dog out an hour ago.
An hour ago shows that let is past here.
Past
They let us in at nine last night.
Let in means allow someone to enter.
Past participle
I have let the cat out.
After have, the participle is let.
Past participle
Her mother has let her go to the party.
Has let is present perfect.
Usage notes
Same spelling, check the clues
Base, past and participle are all let. Look for the clue: yesterday or an hour ago means past, have or has means participle, and a plain habit means present. The third person adds an s: she lets.
Let's
Let's is short for let us. Use it to make a suggestion: Let's go to the cinema. Do not write lets without the apostrophe for a suggestion.
Let and the next verb
After let and a person, use the base form without to: let me go, not let me to go. The -ing form doubles the t: letting.
Common mistakes
Let me to go.
Let me go.
After let and a person, use the base verb without to.
He leted me use his phone.
He let me use his phone.
Let is irregular and does not change in the past. There is no -ed.
Lets go to the park!
Let's go to the park!
A suggestion needs the apostrophe: let's means let us.
Practise this verb
0/8
Choose the right form
Choose the form that completes each English sentence.
1.Our teacher ___ us leave early yesterday.
2.Please ___ me know when you arrive.
3.___ go to the cinema tonight!
4.Has your mom ___ you use her car?
Write the missing form
Type the correct form of let in each sentence.
Correct the mistake
Rewrite the English sentence with the correct verb form.
8.Choose the mistake in this sentence.
Answer key
1. Our teacher ___ us leave early yesterday.
Answer: let
Yesterday is past, and the past of let is let.
2. Please ___ me know when you arrive.
Answer: let
After please, use the base form let.
3. ___ go to the cinema tonight!
Answer: Let's
A suggestion with we uses let's.
4. Has your mom ___ you use her car?
Answer: let
After has, the participle of let is let.
5. They ___ me in at the door this morning.
Answer: let
This morning is finished, and the past of let is let.
6. My dad does not ___ me play games at night.
Answer: let
After does not, use the base form let.
7. She has ___ him borrow her pen.
Answer: let
After has, the participle is let.
8. Her mother leted her go out.
Answer: Her mother let her go out.
Let does not take -ed: the past is let.
Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of let?
The past tense of let is let. It has the same spelling as the present: She let the dog out.
What is the past participle of let?
The past participle is also let: I have let him in.
What does let's mean?
Let's is short for let us. We use it to make a suggestion: Let's start.