"Let we do it!" Grammatical?

Question

Can I say

Let we do it

Instead of

Let's do it

One more question. Because let's is a contraction of let us, so can 'us' be a subject? Isn't 'us' only used as object?

@FumbleFingers Thanks for the link, it's informative! But, Im having problem detecting the subject. :) — Mohd Zulkanien Sarbini, Sep 23 '16 at 16:42
Note that Let's do it! is effectively an *imperative, where us* is actually the syntactic "object". The implied "subject" in imperatives is usually *You [should] let us [do it], but in this case it might make more sense to imagine it as representing We should let ourselves do it. Having said that, I think you could run into some real difficulties trying to analyse the "grammar" of let's*, which is really something of a peculiar usage that obeys its own unique syntax rules. — FumbleFingers, Sep 23 '16 at 16:43
Yes, it's difficult to analyze. It should be treated in your grammar book under a heading like *let*-imperatives. — , Sep 23 '16 at 17:03
@FumbleFingers Cambridge Dictionary values discretion over valor; it explains how and when to use the expression, but avoids analysis altogether. — P. E. Dant Reinstate Monica, Sep 23 '16 at 19:11
It is not a duplicate, as the proposed duplicate says nothing about the construction Let we. We should let this question stand, since it is reasonable in its own way. — Alan Carmack, Sep 23 '16 at 19:19
let we do it it's not a accepted standard English, yet it's still around. — Man_From_India, Sep 24 '16 at 12:45

score 3 · Accepted Answer · edited Sep 23 '16 at 17:28

Nope, and nope.

Subject pronouns (I, we, you, he, she, it, they) come before the verb in sentences and clauses. (Exception is gerunds and infinitives, this is not one of those exceptions).

After the verb, if a new clause has not started for any reason, you need to use object pronouns (Me, us, you, him, her, it, them).

English imperative or "command" mood usually omits the you in front of the verb, which is why it's not there in "Let us X..." It can still be included for clarity.

If gerunds or infinitives have subjects, then object pronouns are used (because technically they can't have subjects, I think). If the verb doesn't end in -ing then you aren't using a gerund, and if to isn't in front of the verb, then you aren't using an infinitive.

I walked to the park.

Me walking to the park was a bad idea.

We walked to the park.

Us walking to the park was a bad idea.

To go to school was considered the smart thing to do.

Me to go to school at 2:00 is what she was planning. (I think this is correct but sounds really awkward, the gerund preferred here.)

"Let we do it!" Grammatical?

1 Answers1