Let vs. Leave

                              Let,Leave

                             

The distinction between these two words is largely a matter of idiom, though in general leave means to depart and let means to allow. Thus: 

let, to allow:

 Let us go, not Leave us go. 

 

Let him work tomorrow, not Leave him work tomorrow. 

Let us be friends, not Leave us be friends.

 leave, to depart: 

 

We Will leave the house by two o'clock. 

We'll Leave for the coast tomorrow. 

Has he left town yet?

Idiomatically, let is used in patterns like the following: 

Let Me alone {Or leave me alone). 

Let me be.

Let him in.

The dog was let loose.

The cat was let out of the bag.

 

Let me off at Fifth Avenue.

 Idiomatically, leave is used in these patterns:

 

 Leave a tip.

 

 Leave a legacy. 

 

Five minus three leaves two.

 Leave him alone (or Let him alone). 

 

It leaves me cold. 

Leave your work on my desk.

 

 DO YOU GET THE POINT? 

 

 1.(Let,Leave) us not talk about it any more.

 

 2.Why don't you (let,leave) Gary play with Margie? 

 

3.(Let,Leave) him go.

 4.(Let,Leave) her be.

 

5.(Let,Leave) them alone.

 6.(Let,Leave) some money for the grocer.

 

7.He (let,left) the cat out of the bag at that time. 

check your learning— answers to test 

 1to 4=let, 5= either let or leave, 6= leave,7 = let