Word placement

Question

Are both these sentences correct?You are what makes me most happy.You are what makes me happy the most.Thanks.

Wilpeter · Accepted Answer

You are what makes me happy.
You are what makes me happier.
You are what makes me the happiest.
You are what makes me happy frequently.
You are what makes me happy most often.
You are what makes me happiest most often.
If, by ‘the most’, you mean most frequently, then “…happy the most.”
If, instead, you mean ‘happiest’, then “…the most happy.”
So, both are correct.

Anonymous · Answer

wilpeterSo, both are correct.

Thanks a lot for your help, wilpeter.

So “happiest” means happier than anything else, right?

Also, Why does the placement of most alter the meaning? I thought that both would have the same meaning - "most happy"!

Wilpeter · Answer

What do you like most? What do you most like? In this case both mean the same.
Where do you go most? Where do you mostly go? Same meaning.
Some verbs work with most before or after.
Others can have two: most sad & most frequently sad.
What books do you read most? (most often)
What books do you enjoy most? (most enjoy)

AnonymousSo “happiest” means happier than anything else, right?

Yes, the happiest you can possibly be.

Anonymous · Answer

wilpeterOthers can have two: most sad & most frequently sad.

Thanks. But what do you mean by this? You added the word frequently so it altered the meaning!

wilpeterWhat books do you read most? (most often)

Again. Seems like most here has the same meaning before and after (What books do you mostly read?)

wilpeterWhat books do you enjoy most? (most enjoy)

Again. Seems like most here has the same meaning before and after (What books do you mostly enjoy?)

Would you please clarify.

Wilpeter · Answer

I’ll try one more comparison, then someone else who can explain better will have to post.
“At what restaurant do you eat most?”
This can mean, ‘Do you eat bigger meals at Swiss Chalet, than elsewhere?’
Or it can mean, ‘Do you more frequently eat at Swiss Chalet, than at other places?’
In the first interpretation, “most” modifies the unspoken word “food”.
In the second interpretation, “most” modifies the unspoken word “often”.

Quoted: "What books do you read most?" (Do you read Mysteries, Comedies, etc.)
There is no misunderstanding, because you wouldn't mean, "Which books do you read the furthest of the way through?"
"Most sad & most frequently sad": This is another situation with no misunderstanding. You would have to say, "The situation is most sad." or "The situation is most frequently sad." There is no ambiguity because of the added word.

Anonymous · Answer

wilpeterI’ll try one more comparison, then someone else who can explain better will have to post.“At what restaurant do you eat most?”This can mean, ‘Do you eat bigger meals at Swiss Chalet, than elsewhere?’Or it can mean, ‘Do you more frequently eat at Swiss Chalet, than at other places?’In the first interpretation, “most” modifies the unspoken word “food”.In the second interpretation, “most” modifies the unspoken word “often”.

Thank you so much. That was very clear! I understood that part clearly now.

wilpeterQuoted: "What books do you read most?" (Do you read Mysteries, Comedies, etc.)There is no misunderstanding, because you wouldn't mean, "Which books do you read the furthest of the way through?

I understood that one too now.

wilpeter"Most sad & most frequently sad": This is another situation with no misunderstanding. You would have to say, "The situation is most sad." or "The situation is most frequently sad." There is no ambiguity because of the added word.

Do you mean in this example that the word ‘frequently’ does not alter the meaning of the sentence with sad? Or I think you mean with the added word ‘frequently’ it is clear that they sentence has a different meaning with and without it, right?

Lastly, I would like clarification on these:

1. I understood what you meant by "Some verbs work with most before or after."

2. What do you mean that "Others can have two: most sad & most frequently sad.”? Do you mean the meaning changes with the word ‘frequently’ where other examples have only meaning, as you have shown above?

3. Is what you have written in the parenthesis for these two examples, (most often) and (most enjoy) what the sentences imply?
"What books do you read most? (most often)"
"What books do you enjoy most? (most enjoy)"

Thank you very much for your help and patience with me!

Wilpeter · Answer

Quote: Re “is most sad” vs “is most frequently sad” – Yes, it has a different meaning because of the word ‘frequently’.

#2: Most sad vs most frequently sad – yes same answer as above. ‘Most sad’ the superlative state of sadness (depressed, in mourning); versus ‘Most frequently sad’ (goes to a funeral each week, cries when her child is hurt, cries when her husband scolds her, and even cries while reading a sad story). In the second example, it isn’t deep sadness but frequent bouts of sadness.

#3: Yes. The verb ‘read’ can be transitive or not (the object can be stated or understood: ‘He reads all the time’ or ‘He reads novels and mysteries’.) In my example, ‘books’ is the object of the verb ‘read’, and the question implies “What type or author of books is your usual choice?” [Note that there is no suggestion that the same book will be read more than once; rather than the same author or topic will frequently be chosen.]
The other, ‘enjoy’ is usually transitive (the object can be a person, an action, a weather type.) In my example, ‘books’ are being ‘enjoyed’ most. Now the emphasis changes to the degree of enjoyment you get from one book over another.

All of this stems from ‘most’ and it’s hidden object. Your original question involved the composite verb ‘make happy’. Applying the modifier ‘most’ leaves the question: “most often” or “most happy” (frequency or degree of happiness).

I hope this rather remote topic is clear enough. If one of the teaching members here can inject a grammatical reference, I welcome it.

Anonymous · Answer

wilpeterAll of this stems from ‘most’ and it’s hidden object. Your original question involved the composite verb ‘make happy’. Applying the modifier ‘most’ leaves the question: “most often” or “most happy” (frequency or degree of happiness).

I can’t that you enough. That was very helpful and clear.

Just curios, can’t I also put ‘most often’ before happy instead of after? (you are what makes me most often happy)

wilpeterI hope this rather remote topic is clear enough. If one of the teaching members here can inject a grammatical reference, I welcome it.

Again that was a great lesson. Thanks a lot!

I just have one more question in addition to the previous one. When should I use ‘most vs mostly’ or ‘often vs oftenly’? Is there a rule?

Word placement

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions