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'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it'



 
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ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
Error Identification | Redoubled: two or four times increased, in total?
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'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it' Sat Oct 21, 2006 13:05 pm  'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it'
 

Hi

Could you please tell me if the following sentences are same?

1- Don't let's discuss it.
2- Let's not discuss it.


Tom
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'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it' Sat Oct 21, 2006 13:16 pm  'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it'
 

I think, Tom, that in your first sentence you ask someone not to let you all discuss that (something like a command)while in your second sentence you give an idea, offer to anyone(all of you) not discussing that Wink
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'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it' Sat Oct 21, 2006 15:50 pm  'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it'
 

Hi Tom

The sentences are synonymous to me. Sentence 2 sounds somewhat more formal, though.

But you left out the third possibility:

3- Let's don't discuss it. Very Happy

Amy
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Don't let's, let's don't Sat Oct 21, 2006 22:04 pm  Don't let's, let's don't
 

I think that "Don't let's discuss it." and "Let's don't discuss it." are both awful sentences; at least they sound very bad to me.

I would say "Don't let us discuss it." and "Let's not discuss it." respectively instead of the above.

I think that I have never heard "let's" and "don't" used together but apparently some people do use them together.

Does anyone agree with me?
Canadian45
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'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it' Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:30 am  'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it'
 

A lot of thanks to all of you!

Amy, do you use all these forms or do you also, like canadian45, do not approve of the following sentences?

1- Let's don't discuss it.
2- Don't let's discuss it.


Tom
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'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it' Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:36 am  'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it'
 

Hi Tom (respects to Amy),

Don't like 'Let's don't discuss it'. To my old ear it sounds dead wonky!

A
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'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it' Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:44 am  'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it'
 

Alan wrote:
dead wonky!

Thanks a lot, Alan.

Your innovative use of phrases has 'rubbed off onto me' to the extent where I am forced to carry the the following series with me all the time. Recently bought it! Wink

Fun with idioms by John and Ching Smithback.
Tom
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'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it' Wed Oct 25, 2006 13:19 pm  'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it'
 

Alan wrote:
Hi Tom (respects to Amy),

Don't like 'Let's don't discuss it'. To my old ear it sounds dead wonky!

A

Hi Alan

"Let's don't..." sounds a little wonky to me, too, but no more so than "Don't let's..." Laughing

@Tom
My personal preference would usually be "Let's not..."

http://www.bartleby.com/68/26/3626.html

Amy
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Error Identification | Redoubled: two or four times increased, in total?
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