---
title: compliment — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «compliment» in the school dictionary: A compliment is something nice you say to praise someone or show you admire them. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# compliment

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** compliment, you, they, Compliments, our, She · **What happens:** be, say, praise, show, admire, compliment · **To what, where:** something, someone, you, them, good wishes, me · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«compliment» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [compliment in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/compliment.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A compliment is something nice you say to praise someone or show you admire them.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compliment:m1:1
# text = A compliment is something nice you say to praise someone or show you admire them.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	compliment	compliment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
5	nice	nice	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	praise	praise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	obj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	conj	_	_
13	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	iobj	_	_
14	admire	admire	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	xcomp	_	_
15	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a compliment | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **praise** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | someone |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Theme |
| 4 | **show** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  | you |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent you=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 5 | **admire** | infinitive | you *not said here* | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer they=Stimulus |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To compliment someone is to say something nice about them or what they did.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compliment:m2:1
# text = To compliment someone is to say something nice about them or what they did.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	compliment	compliment	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	say	say	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obj	_	_
8	nice	nice	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
9	about	about	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obl	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	conj	_	_
13	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **compliment** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | say *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **do** | past | they |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Compliments» (formal) means good wishes, as in «with our compliments».

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compliment:m3:1
# text = «Compliments» (formal) means good wishes, as in «with our compliments».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Compliments	compliment	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	5	punct	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	wishes	wish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
11	as	as	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	with	with	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
16	compliments	compliment	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Compliments | good wishes |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wish=Topic |
| 2 | **compliment** *in a quote* |  | our |  |  |  |  |  | nom compliment «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She paid me a compliment about my drawing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compliment:x1:1
# text = She paid me a compliment about my drawing.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	paid	pay	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	compliment	compliment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	drawing	drawing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pay** | past | She |  | me |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP NP»: agent=Agent i=Recipient compliment=Asset |
| 2 | **draw** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom drawing «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When someone gives you a compliment, say thank you.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compliment:x2:1
# text = When someone gives you a compliment, say thank you.
1	When	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	3	mark	_	_
2	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	advcl	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	iobj	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	compliment	compliment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
8	say	say	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	thank	thank	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	ccomp	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | present | someone | a compliment | you |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent you=Recipient compliment=Theme |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **thank** *speech: thank* | present |  |  | you |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent you=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He complimented the cook on the delicious meal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compliment:x3:1
# text = He complimented the cook on the delicious meal.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	complimented	compliment	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	cook	cook	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	delicious	delicious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	meal	meal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **compliment** | past | He | the cook |  | the delicious meal |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cook=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"You worked really hard" is a good compliment.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compliment:x4:1
# text = "You worked really hard" is a good compliment.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	worked	work	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	csubj	_	_
4	really	really	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	compliment	compliment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** *in a quote* | past | You |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | a good compliment |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I'll take that as a compliment!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compliment:x5:1
# text = I'll take that as a compliment!
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'll	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	obj	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	compliment	compliment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | future | I | that |  |  |  | as a compliment | vn characterize-29.2 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent that=Theme as compliment=Attribute |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fox flattered the crow with false compliments.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compliment:x6:1
# text = The fox flattered the crow with false compliments.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	flattered	flatter	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	crow	crow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	false	false	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	compliments	compliment	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flatter** | past | the fox | the crow |  |  |  | with false compliments | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus crow=Experiencer |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My teacher complimented me on my neat writing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compliment:x7:1
# text = My teacher complimented me on my neat writing.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	complimented	compliment	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	neat	neat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **compliment** | past | My teacher | me |  | my neat writing |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent i=Theme |
| 2 | **write** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom writing «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Free drinks with the compliments of the hotel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compliment:x8:1
# text = Free drinks with the compliments of the hotel.
1	Free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	drinks	drink	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	compliments	compliment	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	hotel	hotel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **compliment** |  |  | the hotel |  |  |  |  | nom compliment «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“In a way,” said Smee, “it’s sort of a compliment.”

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compliment:x9:1
# text = “In a way,” said Smee, “it’s sort of a compliment.”
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
7	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	Smee	Smee	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	’s	's	PART	POS	_	11	case	_	_
13	sort	sort	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	appos	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	compliment	compliment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Smee |  |  | a way |  |  | vn pronounce-29.3.1 «NP V NP PP.manner»: agent=Agent in way=Manner |
| 2 | **sort** *in a quote* |  | way | a compliment |  |  |  |  | nom sort «cognition transitive»: poss=agent of=patient |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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