all I want is that you are

[ademoglu]

Hello,

*self-made*

- What I want is that you are happy.
- All I want is that you are happy.

I would like to ask if it is OK to use 'are' or should I use a subjunctive instead.

Thanks.

 

[Matthew Wai]

I would say 'What/all I want is for you to be happy', but I am not a teacher.

 

[MikeNewYork]

You can use the present subjunctive:

- What I want is that you be happy.
- All I want is that you be happy.

 

[mawes12]

I would say 'What/all I want is for you to be happy', but I am not a teacher.

"For" doesn't have to be there if you don't want it.

 

[Raymott]

"For" doesn't have to be there if you don't want it.

'For' doesn't have to be there whether you want it or not.

 

[tedmc]

'For' doesn't have to be there whether you want it or not.

What/all I want is [STRIKE]for[/STRIKE] you [STRIKE]to[/STRIKE] be happy.

You need to take away the "to" also.

 

[Raymott]

What/all I want is [STRIKE]for[/STRIKE] you [STRIKE]to[/STRIKE] be happy.

You need to take away the "to" also.

No. "What I want is you be happy" is not natural.
"What I want is you to be happy" and "What I don't want is you to be happy" are both good.
It's possible that you mean something like, "What I want is [this]: you be happy", where the second clause is imperative.

PS: Or you might mean, "What I want is [that] you be happy", and you're leaving out 'that'. That isn't natural. There's no necessity to remove the 'to' as well.

 

[tedmc]

OK, I want you to be happy.
All I want is you to be happy.

Or

What I want is that you be happy.

 

[Raymott]

Yes.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Good job, Ted.

 

[Matthew Wai]

"What I want is you to be happy" and "What I don't want is you to be happy" are both good.

Is this because 'you to be happy' is a noun phrase used as a predicate nominative after a linking verb?

 

[MikeNewYork]

I would say yes.