Giving Compliments in English

 

We celebrate the National Compliment Day on January 24.

This is a great excuse to give away compliments and brighten someone’s day (make the person feel good or positive). Giving a sincere, or honest, compliment is an easy way to make someone feel happy and confident. 

The word compliment is both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it means praise or something nice you say to someone. 

As a verb, the word compliment means to praise or to say something nice to someone. In English, both the verb and noun forms of this word are commonly used.

To give a great compliment, remember these tips:

1. We are all unique and special. A compliment should praise something good about a person. Think about what you like or admire about the person you are complimenting.
   
   
2. Give sincere compliments. Mean what you say. People know if you give a fake compliment. An honest compliment can make someone feel loved and appreciated.
   
   
3. In nearly all cases, you can always find something good about the person to compliment.

Compliments in English

Here are some structures you can use to give compliments in English.

Uses: telling someone you like/love their appearance (how they look), skills, belongings 

Examples:

• I love your smile!
• I really like your car.
• I like the way you dance.
• I really love the story you wrote.
  

 

Pronoun + is/are + (a/an) + (really) + adjective + noun phrase

Uses: praising someone’s appearance or belongings

Examples:

• Those are really beautiful paintings.
• That is a nice haircut.
• Those are cute shoes.
• That’s a pretty drawing. 

Adjective + noun phrase

Uses: short compliments

Examples:

• Great work!
• Good job!
• Wonderful meal!
• Cute baby!

 

Noun phrase + is/are + (really) + adjective

Noun phrase + look/looks + (really) + adjective

Uses: praising someone’s appearance, belongings, or skills

Examples:

• Your hair is really cute!
• Your dress looks pretty!
• Your drawing is amazing.
• Your typing skills are really impressive.

 

You/he/she/they + verb + (a/an) + (really) + adjective + noun phrase

Uses: praising someone’s skills

Examples:

• You did really good work (on the test).
• She cooked a fantastic meal!
• They wrote a really inspiring song!

 

You/they + have + (a/an) + (really) + adjective + noun phrase

He/she + has + (a/an) + (really) + adjective + noun phrase

Uses: praising someone’s appearance or belongings

Examples:

• They have amazing talent!
• You have a really beautiful voice.
• He has a fancy car!
• She has really pretty eyes.

 

You + verb + noun phrase + (really) + adverb

Uses: praising someone’s skills

This structure uses adverbs to describe how someone did something.

Examples:

• You performed really well (on the test).
• You cooked the meal perfectly!
• You drew the picture very nicely. 

 

What + (a/an) + adjective + noun phrase

Uses: praising someone’s appearance, skills, belongings, and more

Examples:

• What beautiful shoes you are wearing!
• What a lovely meal!
• What a realistic picture you have drawn!
• What a great job!

 

Responding to compliments in English

Here are a few phrases you can use to respond to compliments:

• Thank you (very much)!
• Thanks!
• Thanks for the compliment. 
• I’m glad you liked it. 
• I appreciate that. 
• It’s very nice of you to notice.
• I am happy to hear that!

 

Homework

Talk or write to 5 different people you like, and give them compliments! :-)