很多人分不清compliment和complement。原因很簡單：它們的發音相同，拼寫也相似，但是，二者的意義則完全不同。
如果你compliment某人，你就是在表達對他們的讚賞，或者因為某件事而表揚他們。這裡有一些取自牛津英語語料庫的例子，可以向你展示該動詞的正確用法。
The airline thanked the passengers for their help and complimented the captain on his initiative.
航空公司對乘客的幫助表示了感謝，並主動表揚了機長。
Make a mental note of the colours you’re wearing whenever people compliment you on the way you look.
每一次別人對你的儀容表示讚賞時，在心裡記下你衣著的顏色。
I must compliment all of our employees for their support and commitment this year.
對於今年所有起到幫助和奉獻作用的員工，我必須提出表揚。
Passers-by stopped to compliment him on his handiwork.
行人停下來，對他的手工製品讚不絕口。
When you are complimented for something that you know was a team effort, don’t forget to give credit to the team.
當你因為整個團隊的努力而得到表揚時，不要忘了將榮譽歸功於團隊。
當我們說一個事物complement另一個事物時，意思就是說，這兩個分開的事物合在一起看起來更好：它們對於加強或改善整體效果都起到了作用。下面的句子都正確地使用了動詞complement。
The recipe was delicious and the wine complemented the food beautifully.
菜很好吃，紅酒和食物也很配。
Architect Graham Morrison said the new development would complement the city centre’s existing historical features but not overwhelm them.
建築師格拉曼莫裡森說過，新的發展會使市中心現存的歷史特色得到潤色，而不是打擊。
Cordelia was wearing a particularly flattering blue dress that complemented her complexion.
克迪莉婭穿了一件非常漂亮的藍色裙子，很襯她的膚色。
This new service is intended to complement existing facilities.
這項新服務旨在完善現有的設備。
Each of the three Russian canvases is complemented by pictures on the same theme by one or more of the other artists.
這三個俄羅斯的畫板上都搭配了相同主題的圖畫，由一個或以上的藝術家完成。
complement和complete一詞有關聯，這個聯繫能夠幫助你記住哪個是動詞。如果你想表達completion的意思，即兩件事物結合在一起，產生好的總體效果，就選擇拼寫中含-e的動詞：complememnt。
怎麼區分complimentary和complementary?
毫無疑問，與compliment、complement有關的形容詞也會讓人弄混。complimentary有兩個意思，它有「表達欽佩或讚賞」的例子。
I have received many complimentary remarks from members of the audience.
我從觀眾那裡得到了很多讚賞。
The vast majority of our patients are extremely complimentary about the care they have received.
大多數病人都對自己受到的照顧十分滿意。
它也有「免費贈送」的意思。
Complimentary light refreshments will be available.
有免費的小點心吃。
Most theatres offer complimentary tickets if you review their show for the paper.
如果你再次觀看，大多數電影院會免費提供票。
We offer a complimentary shuttle service to the airport and historic old town.
我們免費提供去機場和歷史古城的交通服務。
Guestrooms offer complimentary bottled water and fresh fruit daily.
會客室每天都會免費提供瓶裝水和新鮮水果。
complementary在這些語境中的使用是很常見的，但也會出現錯誤的情況。比如，下面的兩個句子都使用了錯誤的拼寫方法。
X There will be an opportunity to meet the artists and have a complementary glass of wine.
這是見到那位藝術家，跟他喝杯酒的機會。
X The winner will receive two complementary tickets to a performance of their choice.
勝者能得到兩張票，內容自己選。
complementary應該被用來描述被結合起來以增加或突出各自的長處的事物。
They had different but complementary skills.
他們的技能不同，卻能互補。
We view this proposal as complementary to existing policing services.
我們認為，這個建議對現有的警務有補充作用。
Interior design and architecture are two complementary professions.
室內設計和建築是兩門互補的專業。
（編輯：何瑩瑩）