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complement  –  compliment

[these words rhyme with each other – the same pronunciation]

The confusion may occur on account of the similarity in appearance (spelling) and in pronunciation.

[Both these nouns can also be used as verbs.]

“Complement” means

(good wine complements delicious good — both of them make a perfect dinner)

(a) ‘something or someone that gives perfection or completeness to something else’,

(b) ‘the full number or quantity needed; one of a two parts that make up a whole or complete each other’,

(c) ‘(in grammar) the word or phrase, especially noun or adjective, that comes after a verb and tells us about the subject of that verb’,

e.g.

Living peacefully in a country house is a complement to thirty years of busy life in a city.

“The manager is angry.”  In this sentence, according to grammar, ‘angry’ is a complement, not an object.

Compare:

He is a boy.  ['boy' in this sentence is functionally a complement]

He read a book. ['a book' in this sentence is functionally an object]

“Compliment” is ‘an expression of admiration, respect, praise either in words or by actions’,

(the best compliment any wife can have, including mine)

e.g.

(“You are splendid!” I said to the young lady who won the dancing competition.)  And she returned my compliment by giving me her autographed colour photo.

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