Compliment vs Complement: Difference and Use in Sentences

You will find here a quick reference regarding the set of words: Compliment and Complement, and How they are used in sentences along with examples to understand the concept.

Compliment and Complement are similar to the other English homophones such as there-their-they’re or to-too-two. Homophones are basically those words that sound identical with different meanings. Here, the spellings of these words are separated by just a single vowel – ‘e’ and ‘i’.

When To Use Compliment in Sentences

Compliment is a word that can function or operate as both a noun and a verb. When it is used in the form of a noun then compliment means flattering or praising someone or something. For example, you can see this in the following sentences.

  • Your friend gave me a nice compliment yesterday. (Noun)
  • The work remarks you gave are a tremendous compliment. (Noun)
  • Just a few months ago, Apple paid Microsoft a high compliment by seeming to have copied the device with its new iPad Pro. –The New Yorker

But when it is used as a verb, to compliment means to praise or to express esteem. For example,

  • We tried to compliment his outfit, but he was busy talking. (Verb)
  • Our friend complimented my hair yesterday. (Verb)
  • Mattingly was often complimented by club officials, but he has not been identified as the team’s leader for the foreseeable future. –L.A. Times

When to Use Complement in Sentences

You will notice that complement can also function as both a noun and a verb. It will help denote and a feeling of completeness or the process of supplementing something.

When the word is used as a noun, a complement is something that completes or brings to perfection. For example, you can see the use of complement in the following sentences.

  • The dressing is an expected complement of salad. (Noun)
  • That shirt is a perfect complement for those pants. (Noun)
  • Our group has a lot of celebrities who flaunt their hourglass figures, and the corset really is a complement to that figure. –The New York Times

We will bring a trick for you so that it will help you to remember the difference between the two words. With this trick, you will be able to remember the difference easily and also they will be applicable in different sentences.

Conclusion:

With this post, you will be able to know how the two words are different and where will be they applied to make the sentences meaningful. Now, you won be misusing them in wrong places. At EnglishBix.com you will get all the insights related to the English language. So always stay tuned to our blogs and also let us know your queries in the comments below.

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