Let's go vs We should leave now

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Let's go

Top 1,000 (very common)

We should leave now

Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Let's go
 Let's goWe should leave now
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //lɛts ɡəʊ//🇺🇸 //lɛts ɡoʊ//🇬🇧 //wiː ʃəd liːv naʊ//🇺🇸 //wi ʃəd liv naʊ//
MeaningA way to suggest leaving or starting an activity together.It's time for us to go.
ExampleLet's go to the park this afternoon.We should leave now to avoid the traffic.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 2,000 (common)
Collocationslet's go out, let's go home, let's go eatshould leave early, should leave together, should leave immediately, should leave the building, should leave my things
Common mistakesUsing 'lets' instead of 'let's' as a contraction for 'let us', Confusing the meaning with 'let go', Not using it with a verb following, e.g., 'let's walk'Learners might say 'We should leave now?' when asking for confirmation., Some may confuse 'leave' with 'go,' misusing them interchangeably in certain contexts., Using 'should' incorrectly, like saying 'We must leave now,' changes the tone.
Usage notesCommonly used for invitations or suggestions. Suitable in casual conversations among friends, but less formal in business settings.This phrase is often used to suggest it's time to depart. It’s appropriate in social and formal contexts but may be overly direct in some situations.

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Let's go
We should leave now

Frequently asked questions: Let's go vs We should leave now

What's the difference between Let's go and We should leave now?

Let's go: A way to suggest leaving or starting an activity together. We should leave now: It's time for us to go.

Which is more common: Let's go and We should leave now?

Let's go is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Let's go: Let's go to the park this afternoon. We should leave now: We should leave now to avoid the traffic.

Can I use Let's go and We should leave now interchangeably?

Not always. Let's go and We should leave now are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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