What is let s in English. Why is the imperative mood needed? Order and prohibition in the imperative mood

Our speech is not complete without a request, order, advice, invitation, prohibition, command, etc. We know that in English there are three moods: indicative mood, conditional mood and imperative mood). The imperative mood in English or imperative mood which expresses the urge to action. And of course, verbs are involved here.

The affirmative form of the imperative mood will help us with this. This form of the imperative mood of the verb in English is represented by the initial form without the particle to, that is, the form that we see in the dictionary. In such sentences there is no subject, but only verbs and minor members of the sentence. Advice, orders, requests, etc. are addressed to the second person, both singular and plural.

Examples of requests, advice and orders in English:

• Close the window, please, it is cold. — Close the window, please, it’s cold
• Read this book, it is very interesting. — Read this book, it’s very interesting.
• Speak with Thomas, he knows what to do. - Talk to Thomas, he knows what to do
• Look at me. - Look at me
• Come to me on Sunday. - Come see me on Sunday.

A request, advice, etc. can also be expressed in a negative form:

• Don't be afraid, please! - Don't be afraid, please!
• Please, don't tell Andy anything. - Please don't say anything to Andy.
• Don’t watch that movie, it is boring. - Don't watch this movie, it's boring.

Order and prohibition in the imperative mood

A prohibition or an order is expressed in a sharper, more rigid form. As a rule, an exclamation point is placed at the end of such sentences:

• Close the door! - Close the door!
• Shut up! - Shut up!
• Sit down! - Sit down!
• Shut your mouth! - Shut up!
• Bring your copy-book right now! - Bring your notebook right now!

If we want to express a prohibition in English, then we usually use the negative form of the imperative mood + the verbs we use:

• Don't open! - Do not open!
• Don’t call me, I am busy! - Don't call me, I'm busy!
• Don't touch me! - Dont touch me!
• Don't enter! - Do not enter!
• Don't smoke! - Do not smoke!

Let is an auxiliary verb in the conditional mood

The imperative mood in English allows for various variations. If you want to address the first or third person in the conditional mood, then the verb will help you let(allow, permit), followed by a direct object (noun or pronoun). This addition identifies the person to whom the order is given or who is asked for something. After this construction there is an infinitive of the verb without a particle to:

• Let me see your photo. - Let me see your photo (let me see)
• Let me have a look at this. - Let me look at this
• Let him speak! - Let him speak!
• Let them help us! - Let them help us!
• Let her put on this dress. - Let her wear this dress.

If you want to express an invitation or call to joint action, then the formation of such a form of the imperative mood in English requires the use of the construction let us (let's). It is translated with the word “let’s”, or is completely omitted.

• Let us discuss this question. - Let's discuss this issue
• Let's see what we can do with this. - Let's see what we can do about it
• Let's begin our lesson. - Let's start our lesson
• Let's invite them to us! - Let's invite them to us
• Let us be polite. - Let's be polite.

It is also worth mentioning the strengthened form of the imperative mood. In English it is expressed by the verb “ do» before verbs in the imperative mood. Remember simple examples:

• Do be attentive! - Be careful!
• Do finish your work, you are so lazy! - Well, finish your work, you are so lazy!
• Do forgive me: I didn’t want to insult you! - Well, forgive me: I didn’t want to offend you!

This is what it is - the imperative mood in English. As you can see, nothing complicated. There are no additional auxiliary verbs, changes in tenses, etc. Therefore, we wish you good luck in using the imperative mood in speech!

We use the word let when we talk about permission to do something. Sentences with this verb are very often used in colloquial speech.

For example:

“She let us play until late. He allowed me to take the day off. They allowed him to come with us."

In this article we will look in detail at how to construct all types of sentences with let, and what nuances you should pay attention to.

In the article you will learn:

Affirmative sentences with the verb let

The verb let is translated as “allow/permit”. We use it when someone gives permission to someone else to do something.

For example:

She allowed me to come in.

In English, such sentences are easy to construct.

For this:

1. We put the main character first in the sentence- the one who allows: I, she, he, they, we.

For example:

They...
They...

Important: If she, he come first, then we add the ending -s to the verb: lets.

For example:

They let...
They allow...

She lets...
She allows...

3. After the action comes the person who is allowed to do something.

Notice how our pronouns change:

I-me
you - you
he-him
she-her
they - them
we-us

This happens because here the pronoun is not the main character, but is an addition - the one to whom the action is directed.

For example:

They let me...
They let me...

She lets him...
She allows him...

4. Set the action that is allowed to be done.

The only peculiarity of such sentences is that we do not put the particle to before the action that is allowed to another person (although it is in the initial form).

For example:

They let me work.
They let me work.

She lets him come.
She allows him to come.

The outline of such a proposal would be:

I		me
You	let	you
We		them	read
They		us	work
She		him	study
He	lets	her
It		it

For example:

They let him watch TV.
They allow him to watch TV.

She lets them use dictionary.
She allows them to use a dictionary.

Formation of affirmative sentences in the past tense (Past Simple)

In the past tense, the sentence is formed in exactly the same way. Only we put let in the past tense - let (the form of the past tense is exactly the same as the present) and translate this verb as “allowed, permitted.”

Offer outline:

Actor + let + one who is allowed + action

I		me
You		you
We		us	work
They	let	them	smoke
She		her	come
He		him
It		it

For example:

She let I come in.
She allowed me to enter.

They let him look at this document.
They allowed him to look at this document.

Negative sentences with the verb let in English

We can say that we do not allow another person to do something. For this we use negative sentences.

Negation in such sentences is formed using the auxiliary verb do and the negative particle not.

For she and he we use the auxiliary verb does. Please note that we no longer add the ending -s to the let verb.

Reduction:

Do + not = don’t
Does + not = doesn’t

Offer outline:

Actor + don"t/doesn"t + let + the one who is allowed + action

I			me
You			you
We	don"t		them	read
They		let	us	work
She			him	study
He	doesn't		her
It			it

They don't let us play.
They don't let us play.

She doesn't let him smoke.
She doesn't allow him to smoke.

Formation of negative sentences in the past tense (Past Simple)

To say that someone was not allowed to do something, we use the auxiliary verb did and the negative particle not.

Reduction:

did + not = didn’t

Offer outline:

Actor + didn’t + let + the one who is allowed to act

I			me
You			you
We			us	work
They	didn't	let	them	smoke
She			her	come
He			him
It			it

He didn't let they go to the party.
He didn't allow them to go to the party.

We didn't let her buy it.
We didn't let her buy it.

Interrogative sentences with let in English

To ask a question, the auxiliary verbs do/does need to be placed first in the sentence.

The outline of such a proposal:

Do/does + actor + let + the one who is allowed + action?

	I		me
	you		you
Do	we		us	read
	they	let	them	work
	she		her	study
Does	he		him
	it		it

Does he let are you working?
Does he let you work?

Do you let them eat sweets.
Do you allow them to eat sweets?

Formation of interrogative sentences in the past tense

To ask whether someone was allowed to do something in the past, we use the auxiliary verb did.

The outline of such a proposal:

Did + actor + let + one who is allowed + action?

Very often there is confusion between the verb let and the expression let's. Let's look at its use.

Using the expression let's in English

Let's is a contraction of two words let and us. Typically, this abbreviation is used for commands (calls to action) in the first person plural (i.e., “we”).

The unabridged form let us can also be used, but will sound very formal and should only be used on formal occasions.

Let us come to the meeting.
Let us come to the meeting.

The abbreviation let's is used in everyday life; it is a colloquial form.

Please note that we usually translate the abbreviation let's as “come on” and not “let us”.

Such proposals are structured according to the following scheme:

Let's + action

For example:

Let's go to the cinema.
Let's go to the cinema.

Let's’ s watch this film.
Let's watch this movie.

So, we've looked at how to give permission to someone using the let verb, now let's put it into practice.

Reinforcement task

Translate the following sentences into English. Leave your answers in the comments.

1. He is not allowed to smoke.
2. We allowed him to go to the park.
3. Let's try this.
4. Do they allow her to swim?
5. He allows us to borrow his books.

	I		me
	you		you
	we		us	work?
Did	they	let	them	smoke?

These sentences are used to motivate a person to do something. An order, a request, a prohibition, and so on, they are all imperative sentences. There are two types of imperative sentences: affirmative and interrogative.

Let's consider affirmative sentences:

1). These sentences begin with a predicate, the subject is omitted

Example:

Give me a pencil - Give me a pencil.

Read this article - Read this article.

2). Direct word order

Example: Don`t forget to call her- Don't forget to call her.

Interrogative sentences:

1). Will you or won`t you are often placed at the end of imperative sentences

Open the door, will you? - Open the door, please.

Wash the dishes, won`t you? - Wash the dishes, please.

2). An imperative sentence can begin with will or would.

Example: Would you close the window? - Close the window, please

Sentences with let`s - come on

Let`s stands for let us - let us. After let`s is used without the particle to.

Example:

Let`s play piano - Let's play the piano.

Let`s have a party - Let's have a party.

Also at the end of sentences with let`s shall we is often used.

Example:

Let`s dance, shall we? - Let's Dance

Let`s go to the park, shall we? - Let's go to the park

In imperative sentences you can only use let

Example:

Let her come in- Let her come in!

Let them take it - Let's take it.

Often, to express the imperative form, you can simply use it without the particle to.

Example:

Go left- Go left

Write the letter - Write a letter

The negative form in an imperative sentence is formed using an auxiliary verb do and negative particle not

Example:

Don`t do it - Don't do this!

Don`t cry - Don't cry.

In order to strengthen the request, place it before the verb. do

Example:

Do watch this movie - Be sure to watch this movie!

Do let her come in- Let her come in!

You should pay attention to the so-called semi-modal verbs - need And let. They are called semi-modal because they behave in two ways in sentences. We can use verbs need And let as semantic verbs using auxiliary verbs to construct negative and interrogative forms of sentences. But at the same time, their use coincides with the properties of the modal verb.

Let's look at each verb separately:

Need - necessary, necessary

As a semantic verb	Like a modal verb
He doesn`t need to wake up early, his guests will arrive in the evening. — He doesn’t need to wake up early, his guests will arrive in the evening.	I needn`t register the purchase today, I`ve got discount before. — I don’t need to register the purchase today, I received a discount earlier.
Does he need to wake up early to be at the airport in time? — Does he need to wake up early to be at the airport on time?	Need I register my purchase to get a discount? -Do I need to register my purchase to receive the discount?

IN positive verb in sentences need, as a rule, is used as a semantic verb.

Heneed s to wakeupearlytomeethisguestsfromPolandintime - He needs to wake up early to meet the guests from Poland on time.

Ineed to registermypurchasetogetadiscount. — I need to register my purchase to receive the discount.

Let - allow, allow, let's, let

To compare verb properties let for modal and semantic, study the table below.

As a semantic verb	As a modal verb (used as “permit, allow” and “let”)
Alla let s her son watch TV before 10 p.m. – Alla allows his son to watch TV until 10 pm (You should pay attention to the fact that in all cases after the verblet it is necessary to use the infinitive without particlesto ).	Let's Alex announce the winner. — Let Alex announce the winner.
Alla doesn`ttlet her son watch TV after 10 p.m. — Alla does not allow his son to watch TV after 10 pm.	Let's Alex not announce the winner let Natasha do it. - Let Alex not announce the winner, let Natasha do it. (There is also another option for using negation with the verblet , you should pay attention to how the meaning of the sentence changes) Don`t let Alex announce the winner. - Don't let Alex announce the winner.

Moreover, the verb let has one unusual property. When using a pronoun in the objective case us after the verb let, that is letus= let`s, it will have an incentive value “ Let's!”.

For example:

Let` s findtherightdecision! - Let's find the right solution!

In a negative sentencenot comes after let`s:

Let`snot stayhereforlong. - Let's not stay here for long.

You should pay attention to the composition of the dividing question using let`s.

Let's organize grand party, shall we? - Let'swe will organizeluxuriousevening, Fine?

Let`snot scanallthedocumentsatonce,shall we ? - Let's not scan all the documents at once, okay?

"Tail" shallwe always used with the expression let`s in both positive and negative sentences.

English Joke

The debutante was alarmed over the prospect of being taken in to dinner by the distinguished statesman.

“Whatever can we talk about?” she demanded anxiously of her mother.

Afterward, in the drawing-room, she came to her mother with a radiant smile.

"He's fine," she exclaimed. "We weren't half way through the soup before we were chatting cozily about the fleas in Italian hotels."

In this topic we will look at lexico-grammatical ways of expressing commands, requests, invitations, advice and suggestions.

The simplest way to express an order is to put the verb in the imperative mood.

Hurry up!
Close the door!

Such commands are very similar to orders. And as you know, there is little tact in orders. Therefore, you should use this type of command carefully.

Note:

If the speaker wants to make his commands rude in order to show his superiority, then a personal pronoun is placed before the verb in the imperative mood you. That is, the team becomes more targeted.

The first type of command can be strengthened using the following stylistic device: an auxiliary verb is placed before the verb in the imperative mood do. This - stylistic technique, that is, the presence of DO before the verb does not add to the sentence no grammatical changes. The presence of Do adds an additional shade of impatience and irritation to the already commanding tone.

Do hurry up, please!
Well, please hurry up!

You can motivate a person to action using phrases with a verb let. Originally a verb let translated as "allow". After let there is a pronoun in the objective case (addressee) and a verb in the infinitive form without a particle to.

The most common phrase is Let's, which translates as “let/let”. This is a frequently used short form, here is the full version - Let us.

Let us have dinner. - Let's have lunch.
Let's watch TV. - Let's watch TV.

Besides the pronoun us, c let Other object pronouns are also used.

Let him say what he wants. - Let he will say what he wants
Let them leave. - Let(they are going away
Let me think about it. - Let me / Give should I think about it

Note

Pronoun only us forms a short form with let.

There are two ways formation of negative forms for phrases with let.

First method: negation is created using an auxiliary verb of the appropriate tense and a negative particle not.

Don't let them take the money.

The second method, the most commonly used (usually used only in the Present Simple): after the object pronoun one negative particle is placed not.

Let them not take the money.

Please note that depending on the method of negating phrases with let their translation may depend. Let's take a closer look at the examples given.

Don't let them take the money.

If the verb let strictly translate as “allow”, then negation don"t This is where it's at. Accordingly, this sentence has the following translation: " Don't allow / let me they should take the money."

Let them not take the money will be translated a little differently: " Let They Not They take the money."

There is a small but very clear semantic difference between the translations of these phrases.