Let vs Allow
Understanding the difference between let and allow with help you to use let and allow appropriately in the English language. Before analyzing the difference between let and allow, let us first get to know more about the two words, let and allow. Let is primarily used as a verb. However, in British English the word let is used as a noun to mean ‘a period during which a room or property is rented.’ Then, when we look at the origin of the word let we can see that it comes from the Old English word lǣtan. Meanwhile, the origin of the word allow can be traced back to Middle English.
What does Let mean?
The word let is used as a verb as in the sentences given below:
He let him in the house.
She let the dog enter the premises of her house.
In both the sentences given above, you can see that the word let is used as a verb in the sense of ‘enter’. Thus, the first sentence has the meaning of ‘he made him to enter his house’. The meaning of the second sentence would be ‘she made the dog enter the premises of her house’. In other words, we can say that in these instances, the word let is used as to mean ‘not prevent or forbid.’ In that way, the first sentence would mean ‘he did not prevent him from entering the house.’ In the same manner, the second sentence would mean ‘she did not prevent the dog from entering the premises of her house.’
It is interesting to note that the word let is not followed immediately by any preposition but on the other hand the usage of the word let is followed immediately by an object as you can see in the first sentence given above that the word let is followed by ‘him’ (object). In the same way, you can find that the word let is followed by the object ‘dog’. This is an important observation to make in the usage of the verb let.
What does Allow mean?
On the other hand, the word allow is also used as a verb. It is used in the sense of ‘permit’ as in the sentences given below:
She will allow you into her house.
The teacher allowed him into the class.
In both the sentences given above, you can see that the verb allow is used in the sense of ‘permit’. In the first sentence, the meaning would be ‘she will permit you into her house.’ The meaning of the second sentence would be ‘the teacher permitted him into the class’.
What is the difference between Let and Allow?
• The word let is used as a verb.
• The word let carries the meaning ‘not prevent or forbid.’
• The word let is not immediately followed by any preposition.
• The word let is followed by the object of the sentence.
• On the other hand, the word allow is also used as a verb.
• The word allow is used in the sense of ‘permit’
These are the differences between let and allow.