Hey there,
Last week, I was having coffee with my friend Sharmila (she's been learning English for 3 years), and she told someone: "Your shirt is very beautiful."
Grammatically perfect. But the guy looked... uncomfortable.
Sharmila was confused. She did everything right, didn't she?
Here's what happened: She gave a textbook compliment. And that's exactly the problem.
The truth about compliments in English
Native speakers don't say "Your shirt is very beautiful." They'd say "I love that shirt" or "That color looks great on you."
See the difference?
The first one sounds like you're analyzing clothing in a store. The second one sounds like... a real person talking to another real person.
The secret isn't about being more descriptive or using fancier words. It's about making it personal.
Here's what I mean:
Instead of: "Your presentation was very good." Say: "Your presentation really helped me understand the concept."
Instead of: "You speak English well." Say: "I love how clearly you explain things."
Instead of: "Your house is beautiful." Say: "Your house feels so warm and welcoming."
You're not just commenting ON something. You're sharing how it affected YOU.
This one shift changes everything.
INTERESTING FACT: The word "compliment" comes from the Latin "complere" meaning "to complete." In the 1600s, a compliment was literally seen as "completing" social courtesy. Pretty cool that we're still "completing" conversations with kind words 400 years later, right?
Try this today:
Next time you want to compliment someone, ask yourself: "How did this make me feel?"
Then share THAT feeling.
Not "Your cooking is delicious" but "This reminds me of my grandmother's cooking, I haven't tasted something this comforting in months."
Not "Nice haircut" but "That haircut really suits you, you look so confident."
You'll notice people's faces light up differently. Because you're not just observing, you're connecting.
One more thing: timing matters. The best compliments come in the moment, naturally, not as an afterthought. If you see something you appreciate, say it right away. That spontaneity makes it feel genuine.
A fellow language enthusiast, Simon, runs Mondecast – a site full of tools and motivation for language learners. He offers a free comprehensive guide on language learning that's helped thousands of people. If you want to level up your approach to learning English (or any language), grab his guide at mondecast.com. It's the real deal.
Your turn
I want to hear from you: What's the hardest part about giving compliments in English? Hit reply and let me know. I read every single response, and your answers help me create better content for you.
(Seriously, I reply to everyone who writes back. Try me.)
Until next time,
— Raghavendra M from ClipYourEnglish
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