kom ons/laat ons

Let's

Level 2

To suggest doing something together, say Kom ons or Laat ons + verb: Kom ons gaan eet! (Let's go and eat!)

How It Works

1. Kom ons: the everyday choice. After kom ons, the verb follows ons straight away, just like in a normal sentence:

  • Kom ons gaan eet! (Let's go and eat!)
  • Kom ons speel 'n speletjie. (Let's play a game.)
  • Kom ons ry saam. (Let's ride together.)

2. Laat ons: more formal. Laat ons works like laat + infinitive: the infinitive goes to the end, after any object:

  • Laat ons begin. (Let's begin.)
  • Laat ons die deur toemaak. (Let's close the door.)

3. Let's not. With laat ons, put nie after ons and again at the end: Laat ons nie vergeet nie. (Let's not forget.)

4. Register. In a chat with friends, laat ons can sound stiff, so kom ons is the safer choice. Laat ons suits a speech, a meeting or a prayer: Laat ons bid. (Let us pray.)

Tip: A plain command is only for the listener: Eet! (Eat!). With kom ons or laat ons you include yourself.

Examples (6)

  1. Kom ons gaan eet!

    Let's go and eat!

    Word by Word: Come we go eat!

  2. Laat ons begin.

    Let's begin.

    Word by Word: Let us begin.

  3. Kom ons speel 'n speletjie.

    Let's play a game.

    Word by Word: Come we play a game.

    After kom ons, the verb speel comes straight after ons.

  4. Laat ons die deur toemaak.

    Let's close the door.

    Word by Word: Let us the door close.

    After laat ons, the infinitive toemaak goes to the end.

  5. Kom ons ry saam.

    Let's ride together.

    Word by Word: Come we ride together.

  6. Laat ons nie vergeet nie.

    Let's not forget.

    Word by Word: Let us not forget not.

Common Mistakes

  • Using main-clause order after laat ons.

    Laat ons maak die deur toe.
    Laat ons die deur toemaak.

    Laat takes an infinitive at the end of the clause, so the separable verb stays in one piece at the end.

  • Leaving out the final nie in a negative suggestion.

    Laat ons nie vergeet.
    Laat ons nie vergeet nie.

    A negative sentence needs nie again at the very end.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

kom ons/laat onsLevel 2Let's

Learn This First

Kom ons and laat ons make suggestions, built like commands.

Words in This Pattern

onslaat