tegul + present tense

Let Someone Do It with Tegul

Level 4

tegul / tegu + present, he/she/they form: Tegul jis ateina rytoj. (Let him come tomorrow.)

How It Works

1. The pattern. Put tegul or tegu before the present-tense form for he, she, it or they. That form is the same for one person and for many.

  • Tegul jis ateina rytoj. (Let him come tomorrow.)
  • Tegu vaikai žaidžia. (Let the children play.)
  • Tegul jie patys nusprendžia. (Let them decide for themselves.)
Tegul and tegu mean the same. This entry uses both forms.

2. What it expresses. It can give permission (Tegu žaidžia.), pass on an order (Tegul Ona man paskambina. Tell Ona to call me.) or state a wish (Tegul būna taip. Let it be so.)

3. The person is the subject. English says let him come, but Lithuanian keeps the nominative: tegul jis ateina, not jį.

4. Negative. Add ne- to the verb: Tegul neverkia. (Don't let him cry. / He shouldn't cry.)

5. Other ways to say it. The future is sometimes used after tegul too, as in Tegul pabandys! (Let him try!) A shorter, more bookish form joins te- to the verb: teateina, tebūnie. See wishes with te-. For you, use commands with -k and -kite. For us, use let’s with -kime.

Examples (6)

  1. Tegul jis ateina rytoj.

    Let him come tomorrow.

    Word by Word: Let he comes tomorrow.

  2. Tegu vaikai žaidžia.

    Let the children play.

    Word by Word: Let children play.

  3. Tegul jie patys nusprendžia.

    Let them decide for themselves.

    Word by Word: Let they themselves decide.

  4. Tegul Ona paskambina man vakare.

    Have Ona call me this evening.

    Word by Word: Let Ona calls me in-evening.

    Tegul can pass on an instruction concerning Ona.

  5. Tegul neverkia, viskas bus gerai.

    He shouldn't cry; everything will be fine.

    Word by Word: Let not-cries, everything will-be good.

  6. Tegul būna taip.

    Let it be so.

    Word by Word: Let be so.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting the person in the accusative, as in English "let him".

    Tegul jį ateina rytoj.
    Tegul jis ateina rytoj.

    The person is the subject of the verb, so use the nominative: jis, ji, jie.

  • Using the infinitive after tegul.

    Tegul jis ateiti.
    Tegul jis ateina.

    Use a finite verb here, ordinarily the third-person present ateina. Tegul can also combine with a future form.

  • Using tegul for a suggestion to "us" (let’s).

    Tegul mes einame namo.
    Eikime namo.

    For an ordinary invitation “Let’s go home”, use Eikime namo. Tegul mes einame can convey a wish or permission about us in a different context.

How It Connects

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

tegul + present tenseLevel 4Let Someone Do It with Tegul

Learn This First

Tegul introduces a third-person wish or permission with a present form.

Words in This Pattern

tegu