Explanation at your level:
To leave means to go away. If you are at school, you leave at 3:00 PM. You go home. You can also leave things. If you put your book on the table and walk away, you leave the book.
When you leave a place, you go away from it. We often use it with time, like 'The bus leaves at 8:00.' You can also leave a job or a school. It is very common to say 'leave behind' when you forget something.
Beyond simple departure, leave is used to describe the state of things. If you leave a door open, it stays open. It is also used in professional contexts, such as 'leaving a company' or 'taking leave' (time off from work). Understanding the difference between leave and quit is important here.
At this level, you should focus on the nuance of leave versus depart. Depart is much more formal, often used for flights or trains. Leave is neutral and used in almost every situation. Also, note the phrase 'leave someone to it,' which means to let someone finish a task alone.
In advanced English, leave is used in complex structures like 'leave nothing to chance' or 'leave someone high and dry.' It carries weight in literary contexts, representing change or transition. You will also see it used in legal documents regarding 'leave of absence' or 'leaving an inheritance' (bequeathing).
Mastery of leave involves understanding its archaic roots and its role in idiomatic collocations that define cultural attitudes. It isn't just about moving; it is about the finality of an action. Whether it is 'leaving a legacy' or 'leaving a mark on history,' the verb carries a sense of permanence and consequence that native speakers use to convey deep meaning.
30초 단어
- Means to depart or go away.
- Past tense is 'left'.
- Used for both people and objects.
- Commonly paired with 'for' or 'behind'.
The word leave is one of those essential verbs you will use every single day. At its core, it means to depart or go away from a place. Think of walking out of your house to go to school or work; you are leaving home.
Beyond just moving away, leave also describes the act of abandoning or forgetting something. If you walk out of a cafe without your umbrella, you have left it behind. It is a very versatile word that bridges the gap between physical movement and the state of objects.
The word leave comes from the Old English word læfan, which meant to leave behind or to bequeath. It shares roots with the German word bleiben, which means to remain, showing a fascinating historical link between 'leaving' and 'staying'.
Over centuries, the word evolved from its Germanic roots to cover both the act of departing and the act of allowing something to remain. It is a classic example of a word that has kept its core meaning while expanding its usage across thousands of years of linguistic history.
You use leave when you are talking about movement or status. In casual conversation, you might say, 'I need to leave now.' In more formal settings, you might say, 'The train is scheduled to leave at noon.'
Be careful with the difference between leave and let. While leave implies abandonment or departure, let implies permission. Mastering this distinction is a huge step in sounding like a native speaker.
Idioms are where leave gets really fun. For example, leave someone in the lurch means to abandon them in a difficult situation. Another common one is leave well enough alone, which means to stop trying to improve something that is already fine.
You might also hear take it or leave it, which is used when someone gives an ultimatum. These expressions add color to your English and help you express complex social situations with just a few words.
As a verb, leave is irregular: leave, left, left. It is a transitive verb, meaning it usually takes an object, like 'I left my keys.' The pronunciation is a long 'ee' sound, /liːv/, which rhymes with sleeve, heave, and weave.
When using it in a sentence, remember that you don't usually say 'leave to the store.' Instead, you say 'leave for the store.' This small preposition change makes your English sound much more natural.
Fun Fact
It comes from the same root as the word 'belief'.
Pronunciation Guide
Long 'ee' sound.
Long 'ee' sound.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing it like 'live'
- Adding an extra syllable
- Shortening the 'ee' sound
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Very easy to read.
Requires care with prepositions.
Easy to pronounce.
Clear sound.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
고급
Grammar to Know
Phrasal Verbs
leave behind
Irregular Verbs
leave-left-left
Prepositions of Place
leave for
Examples by Level
I leave home at 8.
I go away from home.
Simple present.
The train leaves at noon.
Don't leave your bag here.
I want to leave this city.
She left her phone at home.
We leave for Paris tomorrow.
He left the party early.
Can you leave the door open?
They left the room quietly.
He decided to leave his job.
Leave the cake in the oven.
She left him a note.
I have to leave by five.
Don't leave me waiting.
He left a good impression.
We left the details to them.
Leave it to me.
He left nothing to chance.
She was left in the lurch.
They left the matter unresolved.
Leave well enough alone.
I'll leave you to your work.
He left a lasting legacy.
They left the country behind.
The decision left him confused.
He was left speechless by the news.
The tragedy left a scar on the town.
She left no stone unturned.
Leave the past in the past.
He left his mark on the industry.
They left the building in ruins.
The situation left much to be desired.
He left his family a fortune.
She left the world a better place.
He left his conscience at the door.
The legacy he left is undeniable.
Leave the world as you found it.
She left the room in silence.
He left the question hanging.
They left the outcome to fate.
The experience left him transformed.
자주 쓰는 조합
Idioms & Expressions
"leave someone in the lurch"
Abandon someone in trouble.
He left me in the lurch.
casual"leave well enough alone"
Stop changing things.
Just leave well enough alone.
neutral"take it or leave it"
Accept or reject an offer.
It's $10, take it or leave it.
casual"leave no stone unturned"
Search everywhere.
They left no stone unturned.
formal"leave a bad taste in the mouth"
Feel unpleasant after.
That left a bad taste.
neutral"leave hanging"
Leave unresolved.
Don't leave me hanging!
casualEasily Confused
Both imply permission or state.
Let is permission, leave is departure.
Let me go vs Leave me here.
Similar spelling.
Live is /lɪv/, leave is /liːv/.
I live here vs I leave here.
Same meaning.
Depart is formal.
The train leaves vs The train departs.
Both mean leaving a job.
Quit is usually sudden or permanent.
I left my job vs I quit my job.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + leave + for + destination
I leave for work at 8.
Subject + leave + object + adjective
Leave the door open.
Subject + leave + object + behind
Don't leave your bag behind.
Subject + leave + object + to + someone
Leave the work to me.
Subject + leave + object + alone
Leave him alone.
어휘 가족
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
관련
How to Use It
10
Formality Scale
자주 하는 실수
Use 'for' with a destination.
Use 'let' for permission.
Use 'on' for public transport.
Correct, but don't say 'he leaved'.
Leave needs an object or state.
Tips
For vs To
Always use 'leave for' when mentioning a destination.
Irregular Verb
Remember the past tense is 'left', not 'leaved'.
Contextualize
Learn 'leave' with its common pairings like 'leave a message'.
Confusing with Let
Don't say 'leave me go', say 'let me go'.
The Long E
Make sure the 'ee' sound is long.
Workplace Leave
In offices, 'leave' means vacation or time off.
Old Roots
It is related to the word 'belief'.
Visualizing
Picture a train leaving a station.
Phrasal Verbs
Study 'leave behind' and 'leave out' together.
Register
Use 'depart' for formal announcements.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
L-E-A-V-E: Leaving Everything And Vanishing Everywhere.
Visual Association
A person walking out of a door with a suitcase.
Word Web
챌린지
Use the word 'leave' in three different ways today.
어원
Old English
Original meaning: To remain or to leave behind.
문화적 맥락
None, generally neutral.
Used frequently in workplace culture regarding 'maternity leave' or 'annual leave'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Travel
- leave for the airport
- leave on time
- leave behind
Work
- leave a message
- take leave
- leave the office
Social
- leave the party
- leave someone alone
- leave hanging
Home
- leave home
- leave the keys
- leave the lights on
Conversation Starters
"What time do you usually leave for work?"
"Have you ever left something important behind?"
"Do you prefer to leave early or stay late?"
"What is the hardest thing to leave behind when moving?"
"Do you like to leave your work at the office?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you had to leave a place you loved.
What does 'leaving' mean to you?
Write about a time you left something important behind.
How do you feel when it is time to leave a party?
자주 묻는 질문
8 질문No, 'leave' is to go away, 'let' is to allow.
Left.
No, say 'I am leaving for Paris'.
Stop bothering me.
Yes, in the context of 'taking leave' from work.
Usually with 'at' (e.g., leaves at 5).
No, but it has phrasal variations like 'leave behind'.
It is neutral and appropriate everywhere.
셀프 테스트
I ___ for school at 8am.
Leave is the correct verb for departing.
Which means to forget something?
Leave behind means to forget.
You can say 'leave to the store'.
You should say 'leave for the store'.
Word
뜻
Matches meaning to phrase.
Correct structure for time.
점수: /5
Summary
Leave is a versatile verb meaning to depart, but remember to use 'for' when heading to a destination!
- Means to depart or go away.
- Past tense is 'left'.
- Used for both people and objects.
- Commonly paired with 'for' or 'behind'.
For vs To
Always use 'leave for' when mentioning a destination.
Irregular Verb
Remember the past tense is 'left', not 'leaved'.
Contextualize
Learn 'leave' with its common pairings like 'leave a message'.
Confusing with Let
Don't say 'leave me go', say 'let me go'.
예시
I leave now.
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