leave
part of speech
verb (leave, leaves, left, leaving); noun (leave — time off; permission)
meaning for a pupil
1) To leave is to go away from a place: leave the room. tree →
2) To leave something is to let it stay where it is, or to forget it: I left my bag at school. tree →
3) Left means still there after others went or were used: two cakes are left. tree →
4) To leave alone is to not touch or bother. tree →
5) To leave something to someone is to give it to them, often after you die: Grandpa left me his watch. tree →
6) Leave (a noun) is time off work, or permission: sick leave, leave to speak. tree →
7) (casual) «Leave it out!» (UK) means stop it or I don't believe you; «leave it to me» means I'll do it; «I'm off» or «heading off» means I'm leaving. tree →
8) (rough) «Leave me alone!», «leave it!» shouted at someone mean stop bothering me; said to a dog «leave it» means don't touch. tree →
9) (euphemism) «Was let go» or «left the company» can hide being sacked; «left us» can mean died. tree →
10) (formal) The exam voice says «depart», «vacate», «remain», «retain», «residual», «the remainder». tree →
sense in the lessons
«left» = what remains after some go away («How many are left?» = subtract what went from what was there); in everyday life «leave home», «leave me alone», «leave a message», «leave on» (keep switched on); «left» is also the side opposite right; noun «leaves» is also the plural of «leaf»; in casual talk «leave it out», «leave it to me»; in rough talk «leave me alone», «leave it!»; as a euphemism «left us» (died); in the exam voice «the remainder», «residual», «vacate the premises»
examples
- There were 10 books. Zoe gave 2 of them away. How many books are left? tree →
- 6 children were in the room and 2 left. tree →
- Ben spent 5 pounds. How much money does he have left? tree →
- We leave for school at eight. tree →
- I left my lunch at home! tree →
- Leave the door open, please. tree →
- Leave the cat alone; she is sleeping. tree →
- Only three biscuits are left in the tin. tree →
- can i pet him?? he's growling → No, leave him and walk away slowly. tree →
- Leave it out, you didn't eat 10 pies! tree →
- Leave my stuff alone or else. tree →
- Determine the number of volumes remaining, given that 2 of the original 10 were removed. tree →
- But we cannot leave you here. tree →
note
«how many are left», «remaining» or «the remainder» = subtract what went from what was there. Trap: «left» can also mean the left side, which is no clue; and «2 left» can mean 2 went away (6 children, 2 left: 4 stay) or 2 remain (only 2 left): read the sentence. Past form «left», not «leaved». «leaves» can be the verb (she leaves) or the plural of «leaf» (green leaves). «leave it» to a dog means don't touch; with a growling dog, leave it and walk away slowly.
In the corpora
- An inheritance is money or belongings left by someone who has died, as written in their will.
- Hot water costs energy to heat, so long showers cost money and leave less for the next person.
- "Money's tight" means little is left after the bills for extras; it does not mean the family is in danger.
- Renters sign a tenancy and pay a deposit that comes back if the home is left in good condition.
- A landlord is allowed to raise the rent, usually with warning, and a rise leaves less money for other things.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «leave» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.