What is the past tense of "let"?

The past simple of "let" is "let". My parents let me stay up late on weekends.

What is a common mistake with "let"?

Wrong: "She lets go the balloon and it flew away.". Correct: "She let go of the balloon and it flew away.". Use 'let go of' with preposition 'of'. Avoid 'let go' + object without 'of'.

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Q: What is the past participle of "let"?

The past participle of "let" is "let". Use it after have/has/had: "I have let".

Q: Is "let" regular or irregular?

"Let" is an irregular English verb. Pattern: let-let-let (highly irregular; past equals present form).

Q: How do you pronounce "let"?

/lɛt/ — One syllable: /lɛt/. Rhymes with 'bet', 'set', 'wet'. Short 'e' vowel sound.

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All 12 Tenses of "Let"

Quick reference table — every tense form of "let" with the first-person example and a link to the grammar guide for that tense.

Tense	Example (I)	Quick rule
Simple Present	`I let`	Used for habits, facts, routines, and permanent situations. Full rule →
Simple Past	`I let`	Used for completed actions at a specific time in the past. Full rule →
Simple Future	`I will let`	Used for predictions, decisions made at the moment, and promises. Full rule →
Present Continuous	`I am letting`	Used for actions happening right now or temporary situations. Full rule →
Past Continuous	`I was letting`	Used for actions in progress at a specific moment in the past. Full rule →
Future Continuous	`I will be letting`	Used for actions that will be in progress at a specific future time. Full rule →
Present Perfect	`I have let`	Used for past actions with present relevance, life experiences, or unfinished situations. Full rule →
Past Perfect	`I had let`	Used for an action that was completed before another past action. Full rule →
Future Perfect	`I will have let`	Used for an action that will be completed before a specific future time. Full rule →
Present Perfect Continuous	`I have been letting`	Used for actions that started in the past and continue now, with focus on duration. Full rule →
Past Perfect Continuous	`I had been letting`	Used for ongoing actions in the past that continued up to another past moment. Full rule →
Future Perfect Continuous	`I will have been letting`	Used for actions that will have been ongoing up until a specific future time. Full rule →

Past Tense of "Let" — Let

The past simple of "let" is "let". Use it for completed actions at a specific past time. Because "let" is irregular, "let" is not formed by adding -ed — you have to memorize this form. See our simple past tense guide for a deeper explanation of the simple past.

My parents let me stay up late on weekends. A1
Will you let me borrow your pen for a moment? A1
The teacher let us leave the exam early because we finished quickly. A2

Past Participle of "Let" — Let

The past participle of "let" is "let". Use it after "have/has/had" for the perfect tenses ("I have let"), and after "be" for passive constructions ("It was let"). Because "let" is irregular, "let" is not the same as the past simple — students often confuse the two forms.

My parents let me stay up late on weekends. A1
Will you let me borrow your pen for a moment? A1
The teacher let us leave the exam early because we finished quickly. A2

Is "Let" Regular or Irregular?

"Let" is an irregular English verb. Its principal parts are: base form "let", past simple "let", and past participle "let". The 3rd-person singular present is "lets" and the present participle/gerund is "letting". Conjugation pattern: let-let-let (highly irregular; past equals present form).

Conjugation pattern: let-let-let (highly irregular; past equals present form)

How to Pronounce "Let" and Its Forms

Let: /lɛt/ — Stress pattern: O

One syllable: /lɛt/. Rhymes with 'bet', 'set', 'wet'. Short 'e' vowel sound.

Common mispronunciation of "let"

Sometimes pronounced with long 'e' /liːt/ by non-native speakers; should be /lɛt/.

How to Use "Let" — Common Grammar Patterns

Use 'let' for giving permission. Followed by object + base verb: let me go, let her come, let them play.

let + object + infinitive (without to)
let + object + verb

Example Sentences with "Let" in Different Tenses

Simple Present: Will you let me borrow your pen for a moment? A1
Simple Past: My parents let me stay up late on weekends. A1

Common Collocations with "Let"

let me
let him
let's go
not let
let down

When to Use "Let" vs Similar Verbs

"let" vs "leave"

Let means to allow or permit. Leave means to depart or to place something somewhere.

Smart synonyms — when to use each one

allow — more formal version used in written contexts
permit — very formal, used in official rules

Antonyms: forbid, prevent, stop, deny

Common Mistakes with "Let"

Wrong: She let often.
Correct: She lets often.
Add "s" to the verb when the subject is third-person singular (he/she/it).

Origin and Etymology of "Let"

From Old English 'lettan' meaning to hinder or prevent; evolved to mean allow or permit.

Very common in imperative forms: 'let me help', 'let him go', 'let's go'; used for requests and offers.

Conjugation Tables for "Let"

Negative Forms

Simple present: I do not let · He does not let
Simple past: I did not let · She did not let
Present perfect: I have not let · He has not let

Question Forms

Simple present: Do you let? · Does he let?
Simple past: Did you let?
Present perfect: Have you let?

Passive Voice (where applicable)

Simple present passive: It is let
Simple past passive: It was let
Present perfect passive: It has been let

Frequently Asked Questions About "Let"

Is "let" regular or irregular?: "let" is an irregular verb. Its past simple is "let" and past participle is "let". You must memorize these forms.
What is the past tense of "let"?: The simple past of "let" is "let".
Are the past simple and past participle the same for "let"?: Yes, for this irregular verb, both the past simple and past participle are "let".

Conjugation of "Let" — All Forms, Examples, and Usage