In today’s lesson we’re gonna look at these words here, that’s compliment
(with an i) and complement (with an e).
Hi, I’m Niharika and I’m back with a new lesson
for you. We have homophones – ‘Compliment & Complement’. Well! Homophones are the
words that sound similar, but they mean different and at times the spellings are also different.
So, in today’s lesson we are gonna look at these words here that’s compliment (with
an i) and complement (with an e). So, let’s understand what’s the difference and how
you would end up using them, reason because many people do get confused with these words,
especially when it comes to writing. Well! Because it’s pronounced the same, so it
might not matter, but when it comes to writing you know you have to write it correctly. So,
let’s learn what exactly it is. So, the word ‘Compliment’ that’s with an ‘i’
…. It’s associated with praise; it’s a kind of flattering remark. So, if someone
comes and tells me “Wow! Niharika, you look beautiful today. So, it means he or she is
complimenting me. So, compliment with an i. Okay someone says “Wow! Look at your shoes,
they are awesome, so it means that this person is complimenting you, right? So, the word
‘Compliment is associate with a praise or it’s a kind of flattering remark that someone
makes for you. So, let’s look at some examples so that you understand this much better. “My
compliments for the chef for such a wonderful soup”. Now, probably you are in a restaurant
and you had some delicious soup, you really enjoyed it and your taste buds are quite happy,
so now you would like to appreciate the chef for it, so you can say - . “My compliments
for the chef for such a wonderful soup”. Okay it means that you really enjoyed your
soup, you are praising the chef. Okay so this is the way you would end up using the word
‘Compliment’. Let’s have a look at another example here – “I’d like to compliment
the pilot for such a smooth landing or such a smooth flight”. I’m sorry. So. I’d
like to compliment – now you are again using the word ‘Compliment’ ( with an i) so
you are again making a flattering comment for the pilot, because you really enjoyed
your flight, okay it was very smooth without any turbulence and you thought that the pilot
did a great job, so you are complimenting him. So, the right word you would end up using
is ‘Compliment’ (with an i) So, I’d like to compliment the pilot for such a smooth
flight, okay. So, hope you got this. Now, let’s have a look at the word ‘Complement’
( that’s with an e) now it’s pronounced the same, okay as I said these words are homophones,
they are pronounced in a similar manner, however the spelling is a little different and the
meaning is different. Let’s understand what does the word ‘Complement’ mean here.
Now, ‘Complement is an expression used to enhance something. So, something that goes
well with something, so that’s ‘Complement’. Now, to understand this let’s have a look
at some examples here. “The tie is a perfect complement to the shirt”, which means that this
tie that I am talking about goes very well with the shirt. Okay, so it goes very well,
so something that enhances something or something that goes very well with something that is
when you end up using the word ‘Complement’. Okay, let’s look at another example “ The
cashew nuts were an excellent complement for the soup” so, probably you had some soup
wherein it was topped with some cashew nuts and you thought it was a great idea and you also
thought it went very well and of course it tasted delicious. So, here you are saying
that “The cashew nuts were an excellent complement for the soup”, so it went very
well or probably it enhanced the taste of the soup okay. So, that’s the reason you
are using the word ‘Complement’ (with an e). Now I would like you to make a note
of something, now we learned that ‘compliment’ is a praise or it’s kind of flattering remark,
whereas this ‘Complement’ is …. You know…. To enhance something… is used to
enhance something, but we also use the word ‘Compliment’ for good wishes or for regards
or respect, okay. So, you might have come across people saying “Hey! Compliments of
the season to you” So, those are good wishes, they are wishing you something good, they
are wishing you for a nice Christmas or a nice new year, so it’s compliments of the
season, so when you use that you end up using the word ‘Compliment’ ( with an i) okay,
so please do keep this in mind. It’s used for wishes, regards and respect, alright.
Now, whereas the word ‘Complement’ is also used for something else, what it is?
It’s used for a full crew, or a composition or a set….. A set or a full crew. Now, to understand
this, if you look at the example here “Do you have a full complement of men for your
mission” which means, do you have a set of men for your mission, like a full crew
for your mission. So, when you use this you end up…. You are trying to say this… when
you are talking about a full crew or a composition or a set you end up using the word ‘Complement’
(with an e). So, hope you got it wright? Now, probably to understand this better you can
also take a test, let me know how much did you score and I’ll be back with a new lesson,
till then you take care….