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11-Oct-2006, 10:23
| | Key Member | | Join Date: Nov 2003 Country: China
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Current Location: China First Language: Chinese Thanks: 175
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| |  make a friend
Dear teachers,
I have just read the following from a grammar book:
We can say 'to make friends with them' but we can't say 'to make a friend with him'. Is that right? And is it correct to say ' to make a friend' or ' to make friends' without using 'with ...'?
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.
Jiang |
11-Oct-2006, 11:14
| | Senior Member | | Join Date: May 2006 Country: Belarus
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| | Re: make a friend
Hi, Jiang,
Make friends is a set expression; it doesn't matter if you speak of one or more persons. I think it's all right to say
I made a lot of friends during my stay at the camp.
Cheers |
11-Oct-2006, 13:40
| | Key Member | | Join Date: Nov 2003 Country: China
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| | Re: make a friend
Hi Humble,
Thank you very much for your explanation. Now I see.
Best wishes,
Jiang Quote:
Originally Posted by Humble  Hi, Jiang,
Make friends is a set expression; it doesn't matter if you speak of one or more persons. I think it's all right to say
I made a lot of friends during my stay at the camp.
Cheers | |
11-Oct-2006, 16:07
|  | Moderator | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Country: England (South East)
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| | Re: make a friend
Humble's right, but there is also the expression "make a friend of", meaning "to befriend": "It's a good idea, when going to a new school, to find someone who lives close to you and make a friend of them". In this case, the expression means virtually the same as "make friends with" - but suggests more of an active effort to become a friend.
b |
11-Oct-2006, 23:41
| | Key Member | | Join Date: Nov 2003 Country: China
Posts: 1,882
Current Location: China First Language: Chinese Thanks: 175
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| | Re: make a friend
Dear BobK,
Thank you very much for your explanation. Now I see.
Jiang Quote:
Originally Posted by BobK Humble's right, but there is also the expression "make a friend of", meaning "to befriend": "It's a good idea, when going to a new school, to find someone who lives close to you and make a friend of them". In this case, the expression means virtually the same as "make friends with" - but suggests more of an active effort to become a friend.
b | |
12-Oct-2006, 07:11
| | Key Member | | Join Date: Nov 2003 Country: China
Posts: 1,882
Current Location: China First Language: Chinese Thanks: 175
Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts
| | Re: make a friend
Dear BobK,
Could you please explain if I say 'to make a friend of him' instead of 'them'?
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.
Jiang Quote:
Originally Posted by BobK Humble's right, but there is also the expression "make a friend of", meaning "to befriend": "It's a good idea, when going to a new school, to find someone who lives close to you and make a friend of them". In this case, the expression means virtually the same as "make friends with" - but suggests more of an active effort to become a friend.
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