Complaint and complain are both correct English words, but they have different grammatical roles. The main difference is straightforward: complaint is a noun, while complain is a verb.
That distinction determines which word belongs in a sentence. For example, you can say, “I have a complaint about the service.” You can also say, “I want to complain about the service.” Both sentences are correct, but the two words cannot simply replace each other.
Once you understand this difference, choosing the right form becomes much easier. The same rule works in everyday conversations, workplace messages, customer-service requests, and formal writing.
Quick Answer
Use complain when you are describing the action of expressing dissatisfaction.
- I want to complain about the service.
- Customers complained about the delay.
- She is complaining about the noise.
Use complaint when you are naming the concern, statement, grievance, or report.
- I have a complaint about the service.
- The company received several complaints.
- He filed a complaint about the charge.
A simple way to remember the difference is:
You complain, but you make a complaint.
Therefore, “I want to complain” is correct, while “I want to complaint” is incorrect.
Similarly, “I have a complaint” is correct, while “I have a complain” is incorrect.
Why People Confuse Them
The two words are easy to mix up because they are closely related in meaning and spelling. Both are connected with expressing dissatisfaction, so learners may assume that they can be used in the same grammatical position.
However, their grammatical functions are different.
Complain describes what someone does:
- She complained about the bill.
- They complained about the delay.
By contrast, complaint names the concern or statement itself:
- She made a complaint about the bill.
- They submitted a complaint about the delay.
The situation can stay exactly the same while the grammatical role changes. For that reason, identifying what the sentence needs—a noun or a verb—is the easiest way to choose correctly.
Key Differences At A Glance
| Context | Best Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Describing the action of expressing dissatisfaction | complain | It is a verb |
| Naming a concern or statement | complaint | It is a noun |
| “I want to ___” | complain | “To” is followed by the base verb |
| “I have a ___” | complaint | The sentence needs a noun |
| “We received several ___” | complaints | A plural noun is required |
| “She ___ about the noise” | complained | The sentence needs a past-tense verb |
| “They filed a ___” | complaint | A filed report is a noun |
Here is another quick comparison:
- Complain: describes an action → She complained about the delay.
- Complaint: names a concern or statement → She filed a complaint about the delay.
Meaning and Usage Difference
Complain means to express dissatisfaction, annoyance, or unhappiness about something. In other words, it describes the act of saying that something is wrong or unsatisfactory.
For example:
- Customers complained about the long wait.
- He complained that the instructions were unclear.
- She complained to the manager about the bill.
Several sentence patterns are common with this verb. Complain about identifies the problem or subject of dissatisfaction. Complain to identifies the person or organization receiving the complaint. Meanwhile, complain that introduces a complete statement.
The noun complaint, on the other hand, refers to the concern, statement, grievance, or report itself.
For example:
- The customer made a complaint.
- We received a complaint about the delivery.
- Her main complaint was the poor service.
The noun can also appear in specialized contexts. For instance, legal writing may use complaint for a formal filing. Medical contexts can use it for a reported illness or physical problem. These specialized meanings do not change its basic grammatical role: complaint is a noun.
Complain About vs. Complain To
These two patterns are especially useful:
- complain about + problem: We complained about the noise.
- complain to + person: We complained to the manager.
- complain to + person + about + problem: We complained to the manager about the noise.
Thus, the preposition depends on what you want to identify.
The person or organization follows to, while the problem or subject of dissatisfaction generally follows about.
Tone, Context, and Formality
Both words are normal in American English and can appear in casual, professional, and formal situations. Neither word is automatically formal or informal.
In everyday conversation, complain is very common:
- My coworkers complain about the parking.
- I don’t like to complain, but this order is wrong.
The verb also fits professional situations:
- Several employees complained about the schedule.
- Customers can complain directly to customer service.
Likewise, complaint works naturally in everyday speech:
- I have one complaint about the product.
- The manager handled the complaint quickly.
In formal or administrative settings, the noun may appear especially often because people discuss specific reports or documented concerns:
- Please submit your complaint in writing.
- The office received a formal complaint.
Still, the key difference is grammatical rather than stylistic. Choose the form that matches the role it plays in your sentence.
Which One Should You Use?
Choose complain when the sentence describes someone expressing dissatisfaction.
For example:
- I need to complain about this charge.
- They complained about the delay.
- She is complaining about the temperature.
Choose complaint when the sentence names the concern, statement, or report.
For instance:
- I have a complaint about this charge.
- They submitted a complaint about the delay.
- Her complaint was taken seriously.
A quick grammar test can help.
If you can naturally put a, the, my, your, or another determiner before the word, you probably need complaint:
- a complaint
- the complaint
- my complaint
- several complaints
On the other hand, if the word describes what someone does, you probably need complain:
- I complain
- she complains
- they complained
- we are complaining
When One Choice Sounds Wrong
The most common error is using complaint as if it were a verb.
Incorrect: I want to complaint about the service.
Correct: I want to complain about the service.
The reason is simple: want to is followed by the base form of a verb. Therefore, complain is required.
Another common mistake is using complain as a noun.
Incorrect: I have a complain about the service.
Correct: I have a complaint about the service.
Here, the article a signals that the sentence needs a singular noun. As a result, complaint is the correct choice.
Compare these examples:
- She complained yesterday. ✓
- Her complaint was serious. ✓
- She complaint yesterday. ✗
- Her complain was serious. ✗
Also remember that the past tense of complain is complained, not complaint.
Common Mistakes (and Quick Fixes)
| Incorrect | Correct | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| I have a complain. | I have a complaint. | A noun is needed. |
| I want to complaint. | I want to complain. | A base verb follows “to.” |
| She complaint about the noise. | She complained about the noise. | The past-tense verb is “complained.” |
| We filed a complain. | We filed a complaint. | A filed report is a noun. |
| Customers complaint about prices. | Customers complain about prices. | The sentence needs a verb. |
| He is complaint again. | He is complaining again. | The continuous form requires “complaining.” |
Another point worth remembering is the difference between complaints and complains.
- The store received several complaints. → plural noun
- She complains about the store. → third-person singular verb
Although these forms look similar, they perform different grammatical jobs.
Everyday Examples
Customer Service
- I want to complain about the incorrect charge.
- I have a complaint about my order.
- The company received three complaints this week.
Workplace
- Employees complained about the new schedule.
- She submitted a complaint to human resources.
- His main complaint was the lack of communication.
School
- Students complained about the difficult assignment.
- The teacher received a complaint from a parent.
Neighbors
- Several residents complained about the loud music.
- The landlord received a complaint about the noise.
Everyday Conversation
- I don’t mean to complain, but the room is freezing.
- My only complaint is that the food arrived late.
Notice that the situation itself does not determine the word. Instead, the grammatical role determines whether complain or complaint belongs in the sentence.
Dictionary-Style Word Details
Verb
- Complaint: Not commonly used as a verb in standard US English. Use complain when the sentence needs an action word.
- Complain: A verb meaning to express dissatisfaction, annoyance, or unhappiness about something.
Common forms include:
- complain
- complains
- complained
- complaining
Examples include:
- They complain about the service.
- She complained to the manager.
- He is complaining about the delay.
Noun
- Complaint: A noun referring to a statement, concern, grievance, or reason for dissatisfaction. Its common forms are complaint and complaints.
- Complain: Not normally used as a noun in standard US English.
Examples:
- I have a complaint.
- The company received several complaints.
Depending on the context, complaint can also have specialized legal or medical meanings.
Synonyms
For complaint, closest plain alternatives can include grievance, concern, objection, or statement of dissatisfaction. However, these words are not exact replacements in every sentence.
For complain, closest plain alternatives can include object, protest, grumble, or express dissatisfaction. The best choice depends on the context and intended tone.
For example, grumble can suggest mild or repeated dissatisfaction, while protest can suggest stronger disagreement. Therefore, these alternatives should not automatically replace complain.
Example Sentences
Here are several examples that show the difference clearly:
- Complaint: I have a complaint about the billing error.
- Complaint: The store received several complaints about the service.
- Complaint: Her main complaint was the long wait.
- Complain: I need to complain about this charge.
- Complain: Customers complained about the delay.
- Complain: She complained to the manager about the problem.
A particularly useful pair to memorize is:
I want to complain about the service.
I have a complaint about the service.
Word History
Complaint and complain are closely related historically. Both developed through Old French from medieval Latin forms associated with lamenting or expressing grief.
The verb complain entered English during the Middle English period. The noun complaint also has a long history in English.
Their related history helps explain why the two words look similar today. Nevertheless, modern English gives them different grammatical roles: complain is a verb, while complaint is a noun.
Phrases Containing
Common phrases with complaint include:
- make a complaint
- file a complaint
- submit a complaint
- receive a complaint
- handle a complaint
- have a complaint
- a complaint about something
- a complaint against someone
Common patterns with complain include:
- complain about something
- complain to someone
- complain to someone about something
- complain that something happened
- complain of something
For example:
She complained to the manager about the incorrect bill.
Here, the manager is the person receiving the complaint, while the incorrect bill is the subject of dissatisfaction.
FAQs
What is the difference between complaint and complain?
Complaint is a noun, while complain is a verb. A complaint is a concern, grievance, or statement of dissatisfaction. To complain means to express dissatisfaction.
Is it correct to say “I have a complain”?
No. The correct sentence is “I have a complaint.” The word complaint is the noun form needed after “a.”
Is it “I want to complain” or “I want to complaint”?
The correct form is “I want to complain.” After “want to,” you need the base form of the verb, so complain is correct.
Is complaint a noun or a verb?
Complaint is a noun. It can refer to a concern, grievance, statement of dissatisfaction, or formal report.
Is complain a noun or a verb?
Complain is a verb. It describes the action of expressing dissatisfaction about something.
Is “make a complaint” correct?
Yes. “Make a complaint” is a correct and common phrase. For example, “I want to make a complaint about the service.”
Is “make a complain” correct?
No. The correct phrase is “make a complaint.” Because the phrase requires a noun, complaint is the correct choice.
What is the past tense of complain?
The past tense of complain is complained. For example: “She complained about the long wait.”
Should I say “complain about” or “complain to”?
Both are correct, but they have different uses. Use complain about for the problem and complain to for the person or organization receiving the complaint.
For example: “I complained to the manager about the bill.”
Which is correct: “complaints” or “complains”?
Both can be correct, but they have different grammatical roles. Complaints is the plural noun, while complains is the third-person singular form of the verb complain.
For example: “The company received several complaints.” / “She complains about the service.”
Conclusion
The difference between complaint vs complain is mainly grammatical.
Complain is the verb. It describes the action of expressing dissatisfaction.
Complaint is the noun. It names the statement, concern, grievance, or report.
The easiest rule to remember is:
You complain. You make a complaint.
Therefore, write “I want to complain” when you mean the action. Use “I have a complaint” when you mean the concern itself.
Once you identify whether your sentence needs a verb or a noun, choosing between complaint and complain becomes straightforward.
