Lesson 02 – Making a Compliment Naturally

Exercise 1

Vocabulary

compliment (noun / verb)

/ˈkɑːm.plɪ.mənt/ – something nice you say to make someone feel good.

Don’t forget to compliment people when they do something well.

▸She gave me a nice compliment about my outfit.

polite (adjective)

/pəˈlaɪt/ – showing good manners and respect.

It’s important to be polite when meeting someone new.

▸He always speaks in a polite way.

sincere (adjective)

/sɪnˈsɪr/ – honest and genuine, not fake.

Her smile was sincere.

▸People appreciate sincere compliments.

awkward (adjective)

/ˈɔː.kwɚd/ – uncomfortable or embarrassing.

He gave a genuine compliment.

▸You can tell when someone is being genuine.

tone (noun)

/toʊn/ – the sound or feeling in your voice that shows emotion.

Be careful with your tone when you speak.

▸Her tone sounded friendly.

confidence (noun)

/ˈkɒn.fɪ.dəns/ – belief in yourself or your abilities.

Giving compliments shows confidence.

▸He spoke with confidence and calm.

Exercise 2

Useful Expressions

That’s a really nice shirt — it suits you well.
You have a great smile.
I love your style — it’s very unique.
You’re really good at making people feel comfortable.
That color looks great on you.
I really appreciate your help.
You’re always so positive — it’s refreshing.

Exercise 3

Dialogue Practice

Read the dialogue aloud with your tutor.

Hey, nice to see you again! You look great today.

Oh, thank you! That’s really sweet of you.

I mean it — that color looks perfect on you.

You’re so kind. I wasn’t sure about this jacket, but now I feel better wearing it.

You should! It totally fits your style.

Thanks. You always say the right thing at the right time.

Well, I try to be sincere. Compliments only work if you mean them.

That’s true. Some people say nice things but it sounds fake.

Exactly. You can always tell by the tone — genuine compliments sound natural.

Yeah, and you give them confidently, which makes them feel real.

Guess I’ve learned from you. You’re good at making people comfortable.

Ha! Thanks — that’s the best compliment I’ve had all week!

Exercise 4

Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks to complete the dialogue.

Jason is having coffee with someone new. He tries to compliment.

(1) , I really like your jacket — it looks great on you!

Oh, thanks! That’s so (2) of you to say.

You’re welcome. I think your style shows real (3) .

Ha ha, you’re very kind. You always sound so (4) when you speak.

I try to be. I think it’s important to give (5) compliments.

That’s true. You can always tell from someone’s (6) if they mean it.

Yeah, and being (7) helps you say nice things naturally.

Exactly — it’s not about being perfect, just about sounding (8) and kind.

Choose answers from the options below that fit in blanks 1 to 8

Answer Pool (Questions 1-8)

sincere tone confident genuine polite compliment kind confidence

Exercise 5

Role Play

Role-play the following situation with your tutor.

Situation

You are talking to someone new at a café.
Give them one or two sincere compliments — for example, about their style or attitude — and keep the tone natural and polite.
Then, respond when they compliment you back.
Your teacher will act as the other person in the conversation.

Exercise 6

Discussion

What kind of compliments make you feel comfortable?
Do people in your country give compliments easily?
How do you usually respond when someone compliments you?
What’s the difference between a sincere compliment and a fake one?
When can a compliment sound awkward?
Do you think giving compliments helps build confidence?
Is it common to compliment strangers in your culture?
What’s the nicest compliment you’ve ever received?

Correction – Exercise 4: Fill in the Blanks

(1) → compliment
(2) → polite
(3) → confidence
(4) → sincere
(5) → genuine
(6) → tone
(7) → confident
(8) → kind