B1 Confusable-words 16 min read Médio

Let-he vs. I-know: Qual é a diferença?

Depois de 'let', use pronomes de objeto como me ou him, nunca de sujeito como I ou he.

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use object pronouns (him/her/them) after 'let', but subject pronouns (he/she/they) when they are the main subject of a verb like 'know'.

  • Always use 'him', 'her', or 'them' after 'let' (e.g., 'Let him speak').
  • Use 'he', 'she', or 'they' before 'know' (e.g., 'He knows the answer').
  • Never say 'Let he' or 'Him knows' in standard modern English.
Let + 👤 (Object: him/her/them) vs. 👤 (Subject: he/she/they) + Know

Overview

### Overview
Neste aprendizado, vamos mergulhar em um aspecto fundamental da gramática inglesa: o uso correto de pronomes após verbos como let. Muitos estudantes brasileiros, ao atingirem o nível B1, ainda se sentem confusos na hora de escolher entre pronomes do caso reto (subject pronouns), como I, he, she, e pronomes do caso oblíquo (object pronouns), como me, him, her. O ponto crucial aqui é entender a função sintática: quem realiza a ação (sujeito) e quem a recebe (objeto).
Em português, a gente tem uma estrutura bem rica de pronomes, mas em inglês, a distinção entre sujeito e objeto é rígida e obrigatória. O verbo let (deixar/permitir) é um verbo transitivo. Isso significa que ele exige um complemento, ou seja, um objeto direto.
Quando você diz Let me go, o me é o objeto que recebe a permissão. O erro comum de dizer *Let he go acontece porque o falante de português, acostumado com a flexibilidade da nossa língua, esquece que, após let, o pronome *sempre* deve estar na forma de objeto. Dominar isso não é apenas uma regra decorada; é entender a lógica da frase.
No seu dia a dia, seja mandando uma mensagem no WhatsApp para um amigo ou falando com um colega de trabalho, usar let me, let him ou let them vai fazer você soar muito mais natural e preciso. Vamos desmistificar isso agora!
### How This Grammar Works
Para entender o funcionamento, precisamos comparar com a nossa gramática. Em português, temos os pronomes pessoais do caso reto (eu, tu, ele) e os oblíquos (me, mim, o, a, lhe). Em inglês, a lógica é similar, mas os pronomes possuem formas distintas que não mudam de acordo com a preposição ou o verbo, exceto pela função.
O let é um verbo que pede um objeto direto. Pense nele como uma ponte: ele precisa de alguém do outro lado para receber a ação de permitir.
| Função | Pronomes (Inglês) | Equivalente em Português |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Sujeito (Subject) | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | Eu, você, ele, ela, ele/ela, nós, eles |
| Objeto (Object) | me, you, him, her, it, us, them | Mim/me, você/te, ele/o/lhe, ela/a/lhe, ele/ela, nós/nos, eles/os |
Note que you e it não mudam, o que facilita, mas I vira me, he vira him, e she vira her. O erro clássico do brasileiro é usar o pronome de sujeito onde deveria estar o de objeto. Além disso, existe uma regra de ouro: após o objeto, o próximo verbo deve estar no infinitivo sem o to (o chamado *bare infinitive*).
Se você disser Let him to go, está errado! O correto é Let him go. É como se o let roubasse o to do verbo seguinte.
Em português, dizemos deixe ele ir, onde ir é o infinitivo. Em inglês, a estrutura é Let + objeto + verbo base. Isso é muito comum com verbos de percepção e causativos, como make e see, mas o let é o mais frequente no dia a dia, seja combinando um Uber ou decidindo algo em uma reunião de trabalho.
### Formation Pattern
A estrutura é fixa, o que é ótimo para a gente memorizar. A fórmula mágica é: Sujeito + let(s) + Pronome Objeto + Verbo Base. Veja abaixo como isso se organiza:
| Sujeito | Verbo let | Objeto | Verbo Base | Exemplo |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| I | let | him | stay | I let him stay. |
| She | lets | me | help | She lets me help. |
| We | let | them | eat | We let them eat. |
| They | let | us | leave | They let us leave. |
Perceba que, na terceira pessoa do singular (he, she, it), usamos lets no presente simples. Para os outros, let. O Let's que usamos tanto é apenas uma contração de Let us, onde o us é o pronome objeto.
É por isso que dizemos Let's go (Deixe-nos ir), e nunca Let's to go. A estrutura é simples: se você quer dar uma sugestão ou pedir permissão, siga essa ordem e você nunca vai errar.
### When To Use It
Usamos essa estrutura em situações muito práticas do cotidiano:
  1. 1Permissão: Quando você quer dizer que alguém tem autorização.
    Meu chefe me deixa sair mais cedo
    vira My boss lets me leave early. Note o me (objeto) e leave (verbo base).
  2. 2Sugestões: O famoso Let's.
    Vamos comer uma pizza
    vira Let's eat pizza. É a forma mais comum de propor algo em uma conversa com amigos.
  3. 3Pedidos polidos: Quando você quer oferecer ajuda ou pedir um espaço.
    Deixe-me ver o que posso fazer
    se traduz como Let me see what I can do. Em um contexto de trabalho, usar Let me explain soa muito mais profissional e educado do que apenas começar a falar.
  4. 4Causar um estado:
    Não deixe o problema crescer
    -> Don't let the problem become a big issue. Aqui, the problem funciona como o objeto.
### Common Mistakes
  1. 1Troca de Sujeito por Objeto: O erro mais comum é dizer *Let he go ou *Let she help. Isso acontece por interferência do português, onde ele pode ser sujeito ou objeto em certas construções informais. Lembre-se: depois de let, sempre use a forma de objeto (him, her).
  2. 2Uso do to antes do verbo: Muitos brasileiros dizem *Let me to go. Isso acontece porque, em português, usamos a preposição para ou o infinitivo direto. Em inglês, o let não aceita o to. É let me go, ponto final.
  3. 3Confusão com I know: Às vezes o aluno confunde a estrutura Let me (deixe-me) com I know (eu sei). Por exemplo, dizer *Let I know em vez de Let me know. O erro vem de pensar que, como eu é quem vai saber, deve-se usar I. Mas se você está pedindo para alguém te avisar, você é o objeto da ação de avisar. Portanto, Let me know é a forma correta.
### Contrast With Similar Patterns
É importante não confundir let com verbos que exigem o to no infinitivo, como allow ou permit.
| Verbo | Estrutura | Exemplo |
|:---|:---|:---|
| let | Verbo + Objeto + Verbo Base | Let me go. |
| allow | Verbo + Objeto + to + Verbo | Allow me to go. |
| permit | Verbo + Objeto + to + Verbo | Permit me to go. |
Enquanto let é informal e direto, allow e permit são mais formais e sempre pedem o to. Sacou a diferença? Let é para o dia a dia, allow é para documentos ou situações formais.
### Quick FAQ
  1. 1Posso usar let no passado? Sim! O passado de let é let. Por exemplo: Yesterday, she let me stay at her house. Não muda nada, o que é uma maravilha!
  2. 2Let's pode ser usado na negativa? Sim, usamos Let's not. Exemplo: Let's not fight about this. É bem comum em discussões de família ou trabalho.
  3. 3Existe diferença entre Let me e Let's? Sim. Let me é um pedido ou ação individual (Deixe-me), enquanto Let's é um convite coletivo (Vamos/Deixe-nos).

Pronoun Case Selection

Person Subject (with Know) Object (with Let) Example with Let Example with Know
1st Sing.
I
me
Let me go.
I know him.
2nd Sing.
you
you
Let you be.
You know me.
3rd Sing. (M)
he
him
Let him stay.
He knows it.
3rd Sing. (F)
she
her
Let her speak.
She knows us.
1st Plur.
we
us
Let us (Let's) eat.
We know them.
3rd Plur.
they
them
Let them try.
They know why.

Common Contractions

Full Form Contraction Usage Note
Let us
Let's
Used for suggestions (Let's go!)
He knows
He's known
Present perfect (He has known)
Do not let
Don't let
Negative imperative
Does not know
Doesn't know
Negative declarative

Meanings

This rule distinguishes between the causative/imperative use of 'let' (which requires an object pronoun) and the declarative use of 'know' (which requires a subject pronoun).

1

Permission/Causative

Using 'let' to allow someone to do something or to suggest an action.

“Let her finish her sentence.”

“Don't let them enter the room yet.”

2

Assertion/Knowledge

Using 'know' to state that a subject possesses information.

“He knows exactly what happened.”

“They know how to fix the car.”

3

Idiomatic Suggestions

Using 'Let's' as a contraction for 'Let us' to make a group proposal.

“Let's go to the beach!”

“Let's not talk about that right now.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Let-he vs. I-know: Qual é a diferença?
Pronome Sujeito (Quem faz) Pronome Objeto (Quem recebe) Exemplo Correto com 'Let'
`I`
`me`
Please let **me** know.
`He`
`him`
The coach let **him** play.
`She`
`her`
Did you let **her** in?
`We`
`us`
He won't let **us** fail.
`They`
`them`
Let **them** try to fix it.
`You`
`you`
I'll let **you** decide.
`It`
`it`
Don't let **it** fall.

Espectro de formalidade

Formal
Please permit him to enter the premises.

Please permit him to enter the premises. (Security/Home)

Neutro
Let him come in.

Let him come in. (Security/Home)

Informal
Let him in.

Let him in. (Security/Home)

Gíria
Let 'im in.

Let 'im in. (Security/Home)

Papéis dos Pronomes

Pronomes

Sujeito (Quem faz)

  • I, he, she, we, they e.g., **He** knows the way.

Objeto (Quem recebe)

  • me, him, her, us, them e.g., Let **him** go.

Pronomes Sujeito vs. Objeto

Pronomes Sujeito
I **I** like pizza.
She **She** is a doctor.
We **We** are studying.
Pronomes Objeto (Use após 'Let')
me Let **me** see.
her Let **her** try.
us Let **us** help.

Escolhendo o Pronome Certo

1

O pronome vem logo após o verbo 'let'?

YES
Use um pronome OBJETO (`me`, `him`, `her`, `us`, `them`).
NO
É o sujeito principal da frase? Se sim, use um pronome SUJEITO (`I`, `he`, `she`, `we`, `they`).

Casos de Uso dos Pronomes

▶️

Use Antes do Verbo

  • `I` go
  • `He` runs
  • `They` study
👉

Use Após o 'Let'

  • Let `me` go
  • Let `him` run
  • Let `them` study
🔗

Use Após Preposições

  • For `me`
  • With `him`
  • About `them`

Exemplos por nível

1

Let's go to the park.

Let's go to the park.

2

I know your name.

I know your name.

3

Let him play.

Let him play.

4

He knows me.

He knows me.

1

Don't let her cry.

Don't let her cry.

2

She knows the answer.

She knows the answer.

3

Let them come inside.

Let them come inside.

4

They know we are here.

They know we are here.

1

Let him decide; he knows what he wants.

Let him decide; he knows what he wants.

2

If you let her help, she will feel better.

If you let her help, she will feel better.

3

We know they are busy, so let's not bother them.

We know they are busy, so let's not bother them.

4

Let us know if you need anything.

Let us know if you need anything.

1

Rather than forcing the issue, let him come to his own conclusion.

Rather than forcing the issue, let him come to his own conclusion.

2

She knows full well that we can't let them stay past midnight.

She knows full well that we can't let them stay past midnight.

3

Let it be known that he knows nothing of our plans.

Let it be known that he knows nothing of our plans.

4

Don't let their opinions discourage you; you know your worth.

Don't let their opinions discourage you; you know your worth.

1

Let him who is without sin cast the first stone, for he knows the weight of guilt.

Let him who is without sin cast the first stone, for he knows the weight of guilt.

2

Should they refuse to cooperate, let them face the consequences.

Should they refuse to cooperate, let them face the consequences.

3

He knows the intricacies of the law, so let him handle the negotiations.

He knows the intricacies of the law, so let him handle the negotiations.

4

Let us not pretend that she knows more than she actually does.

Let us not pretend that she knows more than she actually does.

1

The director was adamant: let them flounder if they must, provided they know the risks.

The director was adamant: let them flounder if they must, provided they know the risks.

2

Let there be no doubt that he knows exactly where the bodies are buried.

Let there be no doubt that he knows exactly where the bodies are buried.

3

To let him believe otherwise would be a disservice, as he knows the truth deep down.

To let him believe otherwise would be a disservice, as he knows the truth deep down.

4

Let us delve into the archives; she knows where the key is hidden.

Let us delve into the archives; she knows where the key is hidden.

Fácil de confundir

Let-he vs. I-know: What's the Difference? vs Let vs. Leave

Learners often use 'leave' when they mean 'allow' (e.g., 'Leave me go').

Let-he vs. I-know: What's the Difference? vs Let vs. Make

Both are causative, but 'let' is about permission while 'make' is about force.

Let-he vs. I-know: What's the Difference? vs Let vs. Allow

They mean the same thing but have different grammar.

Erros comuns

Let he go.

Let him go.

After 'let', we always use the object form 'him'.

Him knows.

He knows.

The person doing the knowing is the subject, so use 'he'.

Let's we go.

Let's go.

'Let's' already includes 'us'. Adding 'we' is redundant and wrong.

Let me to help.

Let me help.

'Let' is followed by the base verb without 'to'.

Don't let they see.

Don't let them see.

Negative imperatives still require the object pronoun 'them'.

She know him.

She knows him.

Don't forget the third-person 's' on 'knows'.

Let her to speak.

Let her speak.

Again, no 'to' after 'let'.

Let him who knows tell us.

Let him who knows tell us.

Wait, this is actually correct! But learners often say 'Let he who knows'.

I let him to know the truth.

I let him know the truth.

Even when 'know' is the second verb, 'let' prevents the use of 'to'.

He let her knows.

He let her know.

The second verb after 'let' never takes an 's'.

Let he who is without sin...

Let him who is without sin...

Even in formal/biblical contexts, 'him' is the standard grammatical choice.

Padrões de frases

Let ___ (object) ___ (verb).

___ (subject) knows that ___.

Don't let ___ (object) ___ (verb) until ___.

If you let ___ (object) ___ (verb), ___ (subject) will know ___.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

Let me know when u r here.

Job Interview common

I know I can contribute to this team if you let me show my skills.

Social Media very common

Let them hate, she knows she's iconic.

Travel common

Let us through, we know our flight is boarding.

Food Delivery occasional

Let him leave it at the door, he knows the code.

Ordering Food common

Let's get the pizza, everyone knows it's the best.

💡

A pista do 'Let's'

A palavra 'Let's' é a abreviação de 'Let us'. Como 'us' é um pronome de objeto, isso prova a regra: "Let's start the lesson."
⚠️

Cuidado com o 'And I'

Muitos erram ao incluir outra pessoa. O correto é 'let you and me', não 'you and I':
Let you and me talk.
🎯

Pense no 'Recebedor'

Pense na pessoa após o 'let' como quem recebe a permissão. Recebedores são objetos na gramática:
Let them enter the room.
🌍

Alerta de Linguagem Antiga

Você verá 'Let he who...' em textos bíblicos ou literários bem antigos. No dia a dia, soa muito estranho:
Let him who is without sin.

Smart Tips

Stop! Think of the word 'him'. If you can't say 'Let him', you shouldn't say 'Let he'.

Let he speak. Let him speak.

Use 'Let me know' instead of 'Tell me'. It sounds more polite and professional.

Tell me when you are ready. Let me know when you are ready.

Remember it's a group activity. If you are alone, use 'Let me'.

Let's I go to the store. Let me go to the store.

The pronoun between them must be an object, but the pronoun before 'know' in a new clause must be a subject.

Let he know that him is wrong. Let him know that he is wrong.

Pronúncia

/lɛts/

Let's Contraction

The 's' in 'Let's' is pronounced as /s/, not /z/.

/lɛtɪm/

Let him Reduction

In fast speech, the 'h' in 'him' is often dropped.

Imperative Let

Let him GO! ↘

A strong command or insistence.

Memorize

Mnemônico

Let the OBJECT in; the SUBJECT KNOWS the way.

Associação visual

Imagine a gatekeeper named 'Let' who only allows people carrying 'Object' bags (him, her, them) to pass. Next to him is a wise man named 'Know' who only talks to 'Subject' kings (he, she, they).

Rhyme

After Let, use Him or Her. Before Know, use He or She, for sure!

Story

A king (He) knows where the treasure is. He tells the guard, 'Let him (the servant) go find it.' The king is the subject who knows, but the servant is the object being let go.

Word Web

LetHimHerThemKnowHeSheThey

Desafio

Write 5 sentences about your family using 'Let' and 'Know' correctly (e.g., 'I let him cook because he knows the recipe').

Notas culturais

Using 'Let's' is the most common way to make a suggestion without sounding bossy. It implies equality.

You might hear 'Let us' used more formally in religious contexts, whereas 'Let's' is universal.

The phrase 'Let him be' is a common way to say 'Leave him alone'.

The word 'let' comes from the Old English 'lætan', meaning to leave, allow, or bequeath. 'Know' comes from 'cnawan', meaning to perceive or recognize.

Iniciadores de conversa

Let's decide on a movie. Do you know any good ones?

If you could let anyone in the world lead your country, who would it be?

Let's talk about your future. What do you know for sure?

Do you let your friends borrow your car? Why or why not?

Temas para diário

Write about a time you let someone help you with a problem.
Describe a secret you have. Does anyone else know it? Will you let them tell others?
If you were a boss, how would you let your employees work?
Discuss the phrase 'Let it be'. What does it mean to you?

Erros comuns

Incorrect

Correto


Incorrect

Correto


Incorrect

Correto


Incorrect

Correto

Test Yourself

Escolha o pronome correto.

The coach won't let ___ play until his knee is better.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: him
Após o verbo 'let', precisamos de um pronome objeto. 'him' é a forma de objeto para 'he'.
Encontre e corrija o erro na frase. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Please let she know that I'll be late.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Please let her know that I'll be late.
O pronome após 'let' deve ser objeto. A forma de objeto de 'she' é 'her'.
Qual frase está gramaticalmente correta? Múltipla escolha

Escolha a frase correta:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Let's go to the park.
'Let's' já é a contração de 'Let us', usada para fazer sugestões. 'Let we' está incorreto.

Score: /3

Exercicios praticos

8 exercises
Fill in the correct pronoun (he/him).

Let ___ finish his work; ___ knows what he is doing.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: him / He
'Let' takes the object 'him', while 'knows' takes the subject 'He'.
Choose the grammatically correct sentence. Múltipla escolha

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Let's go to the store.
'Let's' is the correct contraction for a suggestion.
Correct the error in the sentence: 'She let he stay because she knows him.' Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

She let he stay because she knows him.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She let him stay because she knows him.
'Let' must be followed by 'him'.
Change the sentence to use 'Let'. 'He is allowed to leave.' Sentence Transformation

He is allowed to leave.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Let him leave.
'Let him leave' is the causative equivalent of 'He is allowed to leave'.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Should I tell him? B: No, don't let ___ know yet.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: him
'Let' requires the object pronoun 'him'.
Which pronoun follows 'Let'? Grammar Sorting

Select the correct group.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Me, Him, Her, Us
These are the object pronouns required by 'let'.
Is the following rule true or false? True False Rule

You should use 'to' after the word 'let'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
'Let' is followed by the bare infinitive (no 'to').
Match the subject to the object. Match Pairs

He -> ?, They -> ?, We -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Him, Them, Us
These are the corresponding object pronouns.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

14 exercises
Escolha o pronome correto. Preencher as lacunas

Could you let ___ borrow your pen for a second?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: me
Escolha o pronome correto. Preencher as lacunas

Don't let ___ boss you around like that!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: them
Corrija o erro na frase. Error Correction

Her parents let she and her brother use the car.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Her parents let her and her brother use the car.
Qual frase está correta? Múltipla escolha

Escolha a frase correta:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The teacher let us leave early.
Digite a tradução correta. Tradução

Traduza para o inglês: 'Deixe-me pensar um momento.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["Let me think for a moment.","Let me think for a second."]
Coloque as palavras na ordem correta. Sentence Reorder

Ordene as palavras para formar a frase:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I won't let her tell the secret.
Combine os pronomes correspondentes. Match Pairs

Combine o sujeito com sua forma de objeto:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched
Escolha a palavra correta. Preencher as lacunas

Just let ___ know what you decide.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: us
Corrija os pronomes na frase. Error Correction

Let he and I figure it out ourselves.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Let him and me figure it out ourselves.
Coloque as palavras na ordem correta. Sentence Reorder

Ordene as palavras:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Don't let the dog sleep on the sofa.
Escolha a opção correta. Múltipla escolha

Qual frase é usada para fazer uma sugestão?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Let's go home.
Digite a frase em inglês. Tradução

Traduza: 'O policial deixou ele ir com uma advertência.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["The police officer let him go with a warning."]
Ligue o início ao fim correto. Match Pairs

Combine as partes das frases:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched
Coloque as palavras na ordem correta. Sentence Reorder

Ordene as palavras:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He wouldn't let me use my phone.

Score: /14

Perguntas frequentes (8)

'Let's' is a contraction of `Let us`. In modern English, we use the contraction for suggestions and the full form only for very formal permission.

This is a famous biblical quote. While it uses `he` (subject), it is considered archaic. In modern conversation, you should always use `him`.

It can be both! Context matters. If a boss says it, it's a command. If a friend says it about a bad boyfriend, it's a suggestion.

`Let him` is followed by a base verb (`Let him go`). `Allow him` is followed by 'to' (`Allow him to go`).

This is actually grammatically incorrect (it should be 'you and me'), but it is a common mistake even among native speakers.

Yes, if it is the main verb of the clause. For example, `He knows` or `They know`.

Yes! You can say `Let the water boil` or `Let it be`.

It is neutral. It's perfectly fine for both business emails and texting friends.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Dejar / Que + Subjunctive

Spanish uses subject pronouns in 'que' clauses.

French moderate

Laisser / Faire

Pronoun placement is before or after the verb depending on the mood.

German high

Lassen

German case marking is more distinct on nouns, not just pronouns.

Japanese low

〜させる (Saseru)

Japanese is synthetic (verb endings), English is analytic (separate words).

Arabic moderate

دع (Da') / خلّي (Khalli)

Arabic pronouns are attached as suffixes to the verb.

Chinese partial

让 (Ràng)

Lack of case inflection in Chinese.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

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