Which is correct?

[Philip22]

I decided to post here as a starting point.

My question is rather simple but I am just not sure i the following sentence is written correctly.

Mr. Park paid Mary Ann a complement on her dress.

or is it better to write the same sentence as

Mr. Park gave Mary Ann a complement on her dress.

Also are there any grammar web sites out there that can help. Perhaps define the rules that apply to a sentence like this. When to use paid and when to use gave.

Thanks

 

[Lik3]

Constructively, you spelled complement wrong. It is compliment instead of complement, but if I were you, I would use the first sentence. I didn't mean to be rude at all with the spelling.

 

[SepiaAndDust]

Either way is fine. You could avoid the issue entirely by having Mr. Park actually give Mary Ann a compliment ("That dress really complements your eyes.")

 

[Megagog]

I would go with the second one. What's he paying for? That's usually used to denote that he's giving something away.

 

[DCJazz]

To be honest it would be even better to just say he outright complimented her.

Mr. Park complimented Mary Ann on her dress. Or something like that, I dunno. I'm not an english teacher.

 

[Rusticus]

I think it depends on what sort of mood, setting and effect you have in mind.

If I wanted to achieve informality and free flow I'd use "Mr. Park complimented Mary Ann on her dress." (thanks, DCJazz).

If a more formal tone is required, I'd use: "Mr. Park paid Mary Ann a compliment on her dress."

I think one of the keys to good writing is to have continuity of mood and tone within a paragraph, or even within a chapter.

Hope this helps.

 

[hollyda]

I decided to post here as a starting point.

My question is rather simple but I am just not sure i the following sentence is written correctly.

Mr. Park paid Mary Ann a complement on her dress.

or is it better to write the same sentence as

Mr. Park gave Mary Ann a complement on her dress.

Also are there any grammar web sites out there that can help. Perhaps define the rules that apply to a sentence like this. When to use paid and when to use gave.

Thanks

Either is fine, as long as you use the right form of the word.

Complement: to complete something (ex. The cherry complemented the ice cream sundae.)
Compliment: to say something nice/flattering (ex. Jo Anne blushed at the compliment.)

Also, the editor in me would want to see the compliment in action rather than read about it passively. Show, don't tell.

 

[brinny]

Mr. Park complimented Mary Ann's dress. (He actually complimented Mary Ann, not her dress .... i'm sure there's a better way to word this....)