All I want

Question

There's a song which says "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth."

So do you say,

All I want for Christmas is jeans.
All I want for Christmas are jeans.

All I want for Christmas is shoes.
All I want for Christmas are shoes.

Alll I want for Christmas are shoes and bags.
All I want for Christmas is shoes and bags.

Which is the right one and what's the rule?

Cool Breeze · Accepted Answer

All your sentences are similar grammatically. They have a main clause whose subject is all and a relative clause. The relative pronoun (that) has been left out, but that is irrelevant.

All [that] I want for Christmas is shoes.

In all your sentences all refers to inanimate things, not people. When all is used to refer to things, it takes a singular verb: All is well that ends well. Therefore, in all your sentences the singular verb is the right choice.

A plural verb is used with all when it refers to people: All that I want to talk to are here. As this usage is less common, some may object to it as unnatural or awkward. It has been correct English for centuries, though.

CB

Anonymous · Answer

What if I add these?

Ex: All I want for Christmas is these shoes

Is it still right or should it become are?

Another question:

What I want is/are a few things from you.
All I want is/are a few things from you.

All I want

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬