Isn't wishing "wish you a happy new year" in person wrong?

[wannabelean]

I have had many people who wished me "Wish you a very happy new year" in person yesterday which made me think if it is grammatical correct at all.

Is it? When your wishing a person in absentia I guess the above it Ok but not when the person is in front of you. Am I correct? I say " Happy New Year " when I wish in person.

[opa6x57]

I have had many people who wished me "Wish you a very happy new year" in person yesterday which made me think if it is grammatical correct at all.

Is it? When your wishing a person in absentia I guess the above it Ok but not when the person is in front of you. Am I correct? I say " Happy New Year " when I wish in person.

I do NOT use "I wish you a Happy New Year." - ever.
I would say, "Happy New Year!".


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Not a teacher. American/53 years old.

[DavidA]

I am not an English teacher.

To say "I wish you a very Happy New Year" I would not think is grammatically incorrect. It's just an alternative to only saying "Happy New Year".

I can see what you mean about saying it in an e-mail or text message might be more traditional. However, I wouldn't say the former is incorrect, just perhaps a bit more wordy.

[baonguyen84]

So, it is not right when say like that, isn't it? I often hear "Wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year." too. Then, must we say "Merry Xmas and Happy New Year" instead of the sentence above?
Thanks you.

[Barb_D]

*I* wish you, or *We* wish you, not just "wish you."

Spoken, in person, it seems quite formal.

Like the others, I too would simply say "Merry Christmas!" not "I wish you a merry Christmas."

But it's not grammatically incorrect to say "I wish you a merry Christmas."

[orangutan]

Interesting question. I guess wishing is a "speech act", and so functions like promising, inviting etc.

"I won't let you down"
"I promise not to let you down"

"Come to my dacha"
"I would like to invite you to my dacha"

"Sorry"
"I apologize"

The longer forms are certainly not incorrect, and I would have thought they were just a matter of preference.