A complaint tells someone that you are dissatisfied with a situation.
The idea
Make a complaint means express dissatisfaction, often formally. Use about for the problem and to for the person or organisation receiving it.
Examples
- Maya made a complaint about the cold soup.
- A passenger made a complaint to the airline after the delay.
- The neighbours made a formal complaint about the noise.
- You can make a complaint online if the parcel is damaged.
- The customer made a written complaint to the manager.
- Several students made a joint complaint about the broken heating.
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Watch out
Avoid do a complaint: the natural verb is make.
Try it yourself
Choose the missing word. The guest wants to ___ a complaint about the room. (make / do)
Show answer or example answer
make
make follows the infinitive marker in its base form.
Choose the missing word. The tenant ___ a complaint yesterday. (made / makes)
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made
made puts the action before now, as indicated by yesterday.
Choose the missing word. Please make a complaint ___ the delivery, not the driver. (about / to)
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about
about introduces the subject of the complaint.
Practice round
Answer questions and rebuild English sentences to practise. Your score is shown.
Choose the missing word. The guest wants to ___ a complaint about the room. (make / do)
Choose the missing word. The tenant ___ a complaint yesterday. (made / makes)
Choose the missing word. Please make a complaint ___ the delivery, not the driver. (about / to)
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Describe a situation in which you might make a complaint.