“Complains” is a verb, and “complaints” is a noun. You use complains when someone is doing the action, as in “She complains every day.” You use complaints when you mean the things people say, as in “I have no complaints.”
So “I have no complains” is wrong. The right sentence is “I have no complaints.” Many people mix these two words up because they look and sound alike. Once you know which one is a verb and which one is a noun, the choice becomes easy. This guide covers meanings, grammar, examples, medical usage, and common mistakes.
Quick Answer: Complains vs Complaints
| Word | Part of Speech | Simple Meaning | Example |
| Complains | Verb (third person singular, present tense) | Says that something is wrong or unsatisfactory | He complains about the noise. |
| Complaints | Noun (plural) | Statements of dissatisfaction, or reports of pain or illness | The store received many complaints. |
💡 Tip: Ask yourself, “Is someone doing it, or is it a thing?” If someone is doing it, use complains. If it is a thing, use complaints.
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What Does “Complains” Mean?
“Complains” is the verb form used with he, she, it, or a single name. It means a person says they are unhappy, annoyed, or in pain.
- Meaning 1, to express dissatisfaction: “My neighbor complains about the parking.”
- Meaning 2, to report pain or a symptom: “The child complains of a headache.”
- Meaning 3, to make a formal protest: “She complains to the manager when service is slow.”
The verb works in several patterns:
- complains about something: “He complains about the weather.”
- complains of something, usually pain or illness: “She complains of back pain.”
- complains to someone: “He complains to his boss.”
- complains that something is wrong: “She complains that the soup is cold.”
Verb Forms of Complain
| Form | Example |
| complain | I complain when the service is bad. |
| complains | She complains a lot. |
| complained | They complained yesterday. |
| complaining | He is complaining again. |
What Does “Complaints” Mean?
“Complaints” is the plural of the noun “complaint.” It has a few meanings, and each one is easy to spot in context.
- A statement of dissatisfaction: “We received three complaints about the delay.”
- A formal report of a problem: “The customer filed complaints with the company.”
- A medical symptom or illness: “Her main complaints are fatigue and dizziness.”
- A legal document: In law, a complaint is the first document filed to begin a lawsuit.
The singular is “complaint.” Use “a complaint” for one and “complaints” for more than one.
Complains or Complaints: Which One Is Correct?
Both are correct, but they are not interchangeable. The sentence decides which one fits.
- ✅ “He complains about everything.” (verb, someone is doing the action)
- ✅ “He has many complaints.” (noun, a thing someone has)
- ❌ “He has many complains.”
- ❌ “He complaints about everything.”
A simple test helps. If you can put “has” or “have” before the word, you probably need the noun “complaints.” If you can put “he” or “she” before it and it describes an action, you need the verb “complains.”
Is It “No Complains” or “No Complaints”?
The correct phrase is no complaints. The word after “no” must be a noun, and “complains” is a verb. There is no standard noun “complain,” so “complains” cannot be a plural noun.
- ❌ Incorrect: “I have no complains.”
- ✅ Correct: “I have no complaints.”
- ❌ Incorrect: “Without complains, she did the work.”
- ✅ Correct: “Without complaint, she did the work.” (You can also say “without complaints.”)
“Without complaint” is a fixed phrase that means “without saying anything negative.” It is usually written in the singular.
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Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using “complain” as a noun
- ❌ “I want to file a complain.”
- ✅ “I want to file a complaint.”
The noun is “complaint.” “Complain” is only a verb.
Mistake 2: Using “complaints” as a verb
- ❌ “She complaints about the food.”
- ✅ “She complains about the food.”
A verb after “she” needs the ending “s” only, not “ts.”
Mistake 3: Using “complains” after “no,” “many,” or “any”
- ❌ “We had many complains.”
- ✅ “We had many complaints.”
Mistake 4: Wrong preposition
- ❌ “He complains for the noise.”
- ✅ “He complains about the noise.”
⚠️ Common mistake: Writers often add “s” to “complain” to make a plural. The plural noun is formed by adding “ts” to the whole word “complaint.”
Examples in Sentences
Here are a few natural examples for each word.
Complains:
- “My brother complains about traffic every morning.”
- “The customer complains that the app keeps crashing.”
Complaints:
- “The restaurant has very few complaints.”
- “Customer complaints rose after the price increase.”
How Is “Complains” Used in Medical Writing?
Many searchers come to this topic from medical notes, so this section matters. In healthcare, “complains of” is a standard phrase. It tells the reader what symptom the patient reports.
- “The patient complains of chest discomfort.”
- “The child complains of dizziness and headache.”
- “She complains of stomach pain every night.”
The phrase does not mean the person is whining. It is a neutral clinical way to say the person reports a symptom.
Doctors also use the noun form. The chief complaint is the main reason a patient seeks care. In charts, it is often shortened to CC. Another common shorthand is c/o, which stands for “complains of.”
| Medical Term | Meaning | Example |
| Complains of | The patient reports a symptom | Patient complains of knee pain. |
| Chief complaint | The main reason for the visit | Chief complaint: sore throat. |
| Complaints of pain | Reports of pain | Complaints of pain increased overnight. |
Both “complains of pain” and “complaints of pain” are correct. The first uses the verb. The second uses the noun.
💡 Note: If a child complains of the same symptom again and again, such as stomach pain or dizziness, a doctor is the right person to ask. A grammar guide cannot judge a health concern.
Complaints in Reviews and Customer Service
You will often see “complaints” in search phrases such as “reviews and complaints” or “customer complaints.” Here, “complaints” is a plural noun. It means the negative reports customers have made about a product, service, or company.
- “The airline faces rising complaints about delays.”
- “Before you buy, read the reviews and complaints.”
You can say a company “has complaints” or “received complaints.” You cannot say it “has complains.”
Pronunciation
| Word | Simple Pronunciation | IPA (American) |
| complain | kuhm PLAYN | /kəmˈpleɪn/ |
| complains | kuhm PLAYNZ | /kəmˈpleɪnz/ |
| complaint | kuhm PLAYNT | /kəmˈpleɪnt/ |
| complaints | kuhm PLAYNTS | /kəmˈpleɪnts/ |
The stress falls on the second syllable in all four words. The final sound is the only thing that changes. “Complains” ends in a “z” sound. “Complaints” ends in “nts.”
Origin of Complain and Complaint
“Complain” came into English from Old French “complaindre,” which goes back to Latin roots meaning to lament or bewail. The Latin root is often linked to the idea of striking the chest in grief. “Complaint” came from the French noun form of the same word. Over time, English kept the verb and the noun as two separate forms.
Synonyms and Related Words
Several words can replace “complains” or “complaints.” They differ in tone, so choose carefully.
| Word | Meaning | Difference |
| Grumbles | Complains in a low, unhappy way | Mild and informal |
| Gripes | Complains about small things | Casual |
| Whines | Complains in an annoying way | Negative and critical |
| Protests | Objects strongly | More formal |
| Objects | Says something is wrong | Neutral |
| Criticisms | Negative comments | Often about quality |
| Grievances | Formal reasons for feeling wronged | Serious or official |
Words for Someone Who Complains a Lot
If you are looking for words for a person who complains all the time, these are common choices:
- grumbler
- whiner
- griper
- grouch
- kvetch (informal, from Yiddish)
- complainer
Puzzle sites often list several answers for clues such as “one who complains a lot.” The right answer depends on the number of letters, so check the grid first.
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Why Does Someone Complain All the Time?
People sometimes ask about a husband or a coworker who “complains about everything.” That is a behavior question, not a grammar question. In plain terms, constant complaining often comes from stress, frustration, or a need to be heard. If it affects your relationship or work, a calm conversation or a counselor can help. Language experts cannot diagnose a person.
For grammar, the sentence is simple: “He complains about everything.”
Quick Rules to Remember
- “Complains” is a verb. Use it for one person or thing doing the action.
- “Complaints” is a noun. Use it for more than one complaint.
- “Complaint” is the singular noun.
- Say “no complaints,” never “no complains.”
- Say “file a complaint,” never “file a complain.”
- Use “complains of” for symptoms, and “complains about” for general annoyance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it “complains” or “complaints”?
Both are real words. “Complains” is a verb, and “complaints” is a noun. Your sentence decides which one you need.
What does “no complaints” mean?
It means the person is satisfied or has nothing negative to say. People also use it as a casual answer to “How are you?”
Is “complain” a noun?
No. “Complain” is only a verb. The noun is “complaint.”
What is the difference between complain and complaint
“Complain” is the action of expressing dissatisfaction. “Complaint” is the statement, report, or issue itself.
Is “complains of” correct?
Yes. It is the standard phrase for reporting a symptom, as in “She complains of a headache.”
Can I say “file a complain”?
No. Say “file a complaint.” The noun form is required after “file a.”
How do you pronounce “complaints”?
It sounds like “kuhm PLAYNTS.” The stress is on the second syllable.
What is a good synonym for “complains”?
Common synonyms include grumbles, gripes, protests, and objects. Each has a slightly different tone.
Conclusion
“Complains” and “complaints” are different parts of speech. “Complains” is the verb for someone who expresses dissatisfaction or reports a symptom. “Complaints” is the plural noun for the statements, reports, or issues themselves. That is why “no complaints” is correct and “no complains” is not.
When you are unsure whether it is complains or complaints, check whether you need an action or a thing. If a person is doing something, choose “complains.” If you are naming the issues, choose “complaints.” This one small test will keep your writing correct in emails, reviews, reports, and everyday conversation.
Danish Raza is the author of Grammavio, a trusted resource for simple and easy-to-understand English grammar guides. He creates helpful content covering grammar rules, word meanings, vocabulary, and common grammar mistakes to help readers improve their English skills.
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