Hi, My friends are what make/makes me happy. What make/makes me happy are my friends.According to some grammar rules it should be make, plural verb in both cases. Anyway I find a lot of people that use a singular verb (also George W. Bush during a speech).Personally, I think a singular verb sounds better. But grammarians say a plural verb should be used instead and I think that doesn't make much sense... for example, I can't say "What are in the box", and that's why I don't like a plural verb in my examples."What makes you happy?" --- "My friends" ----- "So your friends are what makes you happy, and what makes you happy are your friends"All your opinions will be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Yeah, thanks Alienvoord. I surfed the Net quite a lot in search of some examples, and it seems there's no rules for that. This is what I got from the Net: <ul> <li>What make/makes me happy are my friends --- It seems makes (i.e. singular verbs) is the most used. <li>My friends are what make/makes me happy --- It seems both are used the same way. Personally, I think it depends on whether we consider "friends" as a whole or as separate people.</li> So I think we could say both "Football and girls are what makes me feel better" (the thing that makes me feel better), and "Football and girls are what make me feel better" (the things that make me feel better). If anybody want to give their opinion, I'll appreciate that. </li></ul>

And the literature search I made only confirms my opinion in the above: <a href='http://www.literaturepost.com/chapter/12112.html' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>Confidence by James, Henry - Chapter 16</a> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td>But I was n't ready for her till then, and what makes me so happy now is to know that I have come to my present way of feeling by experience. ...</td></tr></table> <a href='http://www.literaturepost.com/chapter/5676.html' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>T. Tembarom by Burnett, Frances Hodgson - Chapter 24</a> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td>What makes me mad is to think of the fellows that didn't get busy and marry her thirty-five years ago." "Were there--er--many of 'em?" the duke inquired. ... <a href='http://www.literaturepost.com/chapter/12092.html' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>The Beast in the Jungle by James, Henry - Chapter 4</a> "What makes me sure is that I see in your face and feel here, in this air and amid these appearances, that you're out of it. You've ... <a href='http://www.literaturepost.com/chapter/12596.html' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>Life's Handicap by Kipling, Rudyard - Chapter 29</a> 'What makes me killing-mad is his wanting us to do what the *** did thirty years gone. That an' his pig's cheek in saying that other ... no are's there. </td></tr></table>

<ol><li>... 'But what makes me happy is that now people will be ...http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70C14F83C540C7A8EDDA90994D8404482October 29, 2000 - By SUSAN SAULNY (NYT) - New York and Region - News - 873 words</li><li><h3>... one thing that makes me happy is that my family is O.K. ...http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10C15FF3D5F0C748DDDAF0894D1494D81</h3>June 17, 1999 - By JOHN KIFNER (NYT) - World - News - 646 words</li><li><h3>... ''What makes me happy is the good hold we have ...http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30D16F73B5C0C758DDDA00894DB484D81</h3>September 16, 1983 - By SANDRA SALMANS (NYT) - News - 761 words</li><li><h3>... ''What makes me happy is the new playoff formula, ...http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40F13FF395F0C728EDDA10894D9484D81</h3>August 21, 1981 - By PARTON KEESE, Special to the New York Times (NYT) - Sports - News - 744 words</li></ol>these from where: Your search for "makes me happy are" in all fields returned 0 results.

<ol> <li>My friends are what make/makes me happy. <li>What make/makes me happy are my friends.</li> I'll repeat my post first What can mean the thing which or the things which, thus, these are correct <ul> <li>What you need is to know why. <li>What you need is your kids to be healthy. <li>What you need is a small room. <li>What you need are a small car and a big garage. <li>What you need are these notes and a good eraser.</li> In this context you can use all as well <ul> <li>All you need is to know why. <li>All you need is your kids to be healthy. <li>All you need is a small room. <li>All you need are a small car and a big garage. <li>All you need are these notes and a good eraser.</li> However for a stylistic reason you can switch All you need is a small car and a big garage. but, I think, this is, even that way, not correct What you need are your kids to be healthy. However in your samples you have to decided what what stands for <ul> <li>My friends are what make/makes me happy. </li></ul>The things/persons that make me happy are… My friends are those who make me happy. what = those who Maybe, just maybe this is possible as well but then your friends are a thing, which is not nice.<img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/> what = the thing that My friends is the thing that makes me happy. in the next example <ul> <li>What make/makes me happy are my friends.</li></ul>This is the case that might be possible either with are or is (but read ahead). Is is maybe more strict and are is what is preferred by some people. what = the thing that <ul> <li>What makes me happy are my friends. <li>The thing that makes me happy are my friends</li> Unfortunately, this is wrong because you can't give to what both plural and singular. (It is used by someone with maybe the following explanation: it is not what that is subject but the subject is what makes me happy. However, the girl that makes me happy are from Brazil nobody would accept.) However what = the things that <ul> <li>What make me happy are my friends. <li>The things/persons that make me happy are my friends.</li> However, this last one is so rarely used that I am surprised. It is, nevertheless, possible to conclude from the context. Her dogs make her happy. What make me happy are my friends. The most used version is, believe it or not, it was a surprise for me as well: What makes me happy is my friends. but this only confirms that this analyzes was good. </li></ul></li></ul></li></li></li></li></ul></li></li></li></li></ul></li></ol>

Hi guys, thanks for your opinions <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/> Anyway now I think it's time for a native speaker reply. If nobody relpys, this is what I'll say: <ul> <li>What makes me happy are my friends.</li> <li>My friends are what makes me feel happy. (also make)</li></ul>I have alredy said something more in my previous post.

(**** login) Hi guys, thanks for your opinions <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/> Anyway now I think it's time for a native speaker reply. If nobody relpies, this is what I'll say: <ul> <li>What makes me feel happy are my friends. <li>My friends are what makes me feel happy. (also make)</li> I have already said something more in my previous post. </li></ul>

Hi Kooyeen, <ul> <li>What makes me feel happy are my friends. Yes, I'd use the singular here. <li>My friends are what makes me feel happy. (also make) I'd use the plural here.</li> </li></ul>

Thank you so much Grammar Geek! <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/><blockquote><cite>Grammar Geek</cite> <ul><li>My friends are what makes me feel happy. (also make) I'd use the plural here.</li></ul></blockquote>You would use make. But is makes acceptable or usual in that sentence? Or is make more usual? You know, in the end the two sentences I posted are the same: What makes me feel happy are my friends. ----> My friends are what makes me feel happy. George Bush used this sentence during a speech (notice the verb after what is singular): As a matter of fact, prayer and exercise are what keeps me going as -- (laughter) -- as the President. <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/02/20050203-13.html"><a href='http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/02/20050203-13.html' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/02/20050203-13.html</a> </a> But don't tell me Bush's grammar is not the best grammar available, I know!!! <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/5.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/5.gif' alt='Emotion: wink'/>

Kooyeen Posted 20 years ago

Grammar

My friends are what make(s) me happy

Hi,

My friends are what make/makes me happy.
What make/makes me happy are my friends.

make

"What makes you happy?" --- "My friends" ----- "So your friends are what makes you happy, and what makes you happy are your friends"

21 Answers

Anonymous

answered . 20 years ago

singular "makes" definitely sounds better to me. I think this is because "what" is closest to the verb and is perceived as singular.

However "make" is also acceptable.

also see

Kooyeen

answered . 20 years ago

Yeah, thanks Alienvoord.

I surfed the Net quite a lot in search of some examples, and it seems there's no rules for that. This is what I got from the Net:

What make/makes me happy are my friends --- It seems makes (i.e. singular verbs) is the most used.
My friends are what make/makes me happy

Marius Hancu

answered . 20 years ago

I agree with Alienvoord (and I think he gave you the rule: the proximity).

Marius Hancu

answered . 20 years ago

And the literature search I made only confirms my opinion in the above:

Confidence by James, Henry - Chapter 16

But I was n't ready for her till then, and what makes me so happy now is to know that I have come to my present way

Marius Hancu

answered . 20 years ago

... 'But what makes me happy is that now people will be ...http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70C14F83C540C7A8EDDA90994D8404482
October 29, 2000 - By SUSAN SAULNY (NYT) - New York and Region - News - 873 words
... one thing that make

Aperisic

answered . 20 years ago

My friends are what make/makes me happy.
What make/makes me happy are my friends.

What

the thing which

the things which,

What you need is to know why.
What you need is your kids to be healthy.
W

Anonymous

answered . 20 years ago

Hi guys, thanks for your opinions

Anyway now I think it's time for a native speaker reply. If nobody relpys, this is what

Kooyeen

answered . 20 years ago

(**** login) Hi guys, thanks for your opinions

Anyway now I think it's time for a native speaker reply. If nobody relpies,

BarbaraPA

answered . 20 years ago

Hi Kooyeen,

What makes me feel happy are my friends. Yes, I'd use the singular here.
My friends are what makes me feel happy. (also make) I'd use the plural here.

Kooyeen

answered . 20 years ago

Thank you so much Grammar Geek!

Grammar Geek
My friends are what ma

My friends are what make(s) me happy

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21 Answers

Anonymous

Kooyeen

Marius Hancu

Marius Hancu

Marius Hancu

... one thing that make

Aperisic

Anonymous

Kooyeen

BarbaraPA

Kooyeen