Q11
EnglishVocabulary: Meaning, Synonyms & Antonyms
Choose the correct word to fill in the gap in the following sentence. Her book is a _____ to her teacher.
- a.debt
- b.complement
- c.compliment
- d.supplement
Answer: (C) compliment
'Compliment' (with an i) is an expression of praise, respect or admiration, so a book written in honour of one's teacher is 'a compliment to' the teacher. 'Complement' (with an e) is something that completes or goes well with another thing, 'supplement' is something added to make up a deficiency, and 'debt' does not fit the pattern 'is a ... to'. The same pair gives two more confusables: 'complimentary' (given free, or praising) and 'complementary' (completing each other, as in complementary angles that add up to $90^\circ$). Memory aid: I give a compliment; an e completes a complement.