The Imperative
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In the let’s command, the speaker or writer is suggesting that someone should send Aunt Jane a birthday card and knows that the suggestion is only directed at the person to whom the command is given.
Let The verb let can also be used to introduce a command, but the speaker or writer is not included in the command. Instead, a direct object follows let. The verb that describes the action of the command then follows the direct object. For example: Let Jack cut the grass today. (direct object = Jack) Let me use your car for the afternoon. (direct object = me) Let the soldiers rest before the next march. (direct object = the soldiers) Let her try on your new dress. (direct object = her)
Negating Imperatives Most imperative sentences can be negated by introducing them with do not or don’t. For example: Positive: Stop the car in front of my house. Negative: Don’t stop the car in front of my house. Positive: Stand on the edge of the cliff. Negative: Do not stand on the edge of the cliff. Positive: Be a member of their club. Negative: Don’t be a member of their club. If the positive command begins with let, this use of do not or don’t is still used: Positive: Let him sign the contract. Negative: Don’t let him sign the contract. Positive: Let his father shovel the snow from the driveway. Negative: Do not let his father shovel the snow from the driveway. A let’s command does not follow this pattern. Instead, the adverb not follows the contraction let’s: Positive: Let’s go shopping tomorrow. Negative: Let’s not go shopping tomorrow.