complement
complement — verb
1. when one thing goes with another so well that each shows its finest qualities, a
when one thing goes with another so well that each shows its finest qualities, and together they create a more satisfying result
The navy scarf beautifully complements Priya's grey winter coat.
adverb beautifully between verb and object
A crisp green salad complements a heavy pasta dish perfectly.
For her best friend's garden party, Mei wondered what colour shoes would complement her yellow-and-white dress best.
The warm wooden floors complement the white walls in Ravi's kitchen.
Hana's silver earrings complement her blue evening dress nicely.
- supplement
adds what is missing rather than harmonising with what exists
- enhance
improves quality in a general way, not necessarily through matching
- complete
focuses on making something whole rather than on harmony between parts
文法句型
complement + noun phrase
用法筆記
Frequently confused with 'compliment' (with an i), which means to praise. The verb complement always takes a direct object — you complement one thing with another. Subject is usually a concrete item (food, colour, clothing, design) or an abstract quality (personality, skill).
常見錯誤
complement — noun
1. a person or thing that combines well with another, adding qualities that the oth
a person or thing that combines well with another, adding qualities that the other lacks or making the combination more effective and attractive
The red wine was the perfect complement to Leila's roast chicken.
perfect complement to + noun
Yusuf views his calm personality as a complement to his partner's lively energy.
The new metro lines in Oslo are a perfect complement to the city's existing tram and ferry network.
The small balcony garden is a lovely complement to Nadia's city apartment.
- counterpart
emphasises matching or corresponding roles rather than improvement
- companion
suggests two items designed or meant to go together
- accompaniment
something that is served or provided with another, common with food and drink
- opposite
something that is completely different rather than harmoniously matched
文法句型
a complement to + noun
用法筆記
Commonly followed by the preposition 'to' (a complement to something). Do not confuse with 'compliment' (praise). This sense emphasises the positive result of a combination, not just addition.
常見錯誤
2. in grammar, an expression placed after a linking verb that says something about
in grammar, an expression placed after a linking verb that says something about the subject — for instance, 'tired' in 'He looks tired' functions as a subject complement
During grammar practice, Aiko identified 'a doctor' in 'She became a doctor' as a subject complement.
subject complement after linking verb become
The teacher asked the class to identify the complement in 'The sky turned grey.'
Tomás mistakenly called 'a prize' in 'The team won a prize' a subject complement on a quiz.
In her grammar workbook, Yuki circled 'delicious' as a complement in 'The soup tastes delicious,' earning praise from her teacher.
- predicate nominative
a specific type of complement that is a noun or noun phrase renaming the subject
- predicate adjective
a specific type of complement that is an adjective describing the subject
文法句型
subject complement
object complement
用法筆記
Only appears after linking verbs (be, become, seem, feel, look, taste, sound, remain) or verbs of choosing/naming (elect, call, make). A direct object is not a complement — the two terms are distinct in grammar analysis.