make a friend

[jiang]

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

[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

[jiang]

Hi Humble,

Thank you very much for your explanation. Now I see.

Best wishes,

Jiang

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

[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

[jiang]

Dear BobK,

Thank you very much for your explanation. Now I see.

Jiang

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

[jiang]

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

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