consist
consist — verb
- consistpresent simple I / you / we / they
- consists3rd person singular
- consisting-ing form
- consistedpast simple
1. to be formed or made from two or more particular parts, people, or ingredients,
to be formed or made from two or more particular parts, people, or ingredients, with those parts named after the word 'of'
The committee consists of twelve members from different university departments.
consist of + noun phrase naming the parts
A traditional Taiwanese breakfast often consists of warm soy milk and crispy youtiao.
The Watanabe family's dinner usually consists of rice, grilled fish, and vegetables.
This collection consists of paintings by artists from Brazil and South Africa.
- comprise
more formal; the whole comprises the parts, not the parts comprise the whole
- be composed of
slightly more formal; emphasizes the individual elements
- be made up of
common in everyday speech; less formal than 'consist of'
文法句型
Subject + consist + of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Only used in active voice. 'The team is consisted of...' is incorrect — never use 'consist' in passive form.
常見錯誤
2. to have its most important feature, quality, or explanation in something — for e
to have its most important feature, quality, or explanation in something — for example, success consisting in hard work, or beauty consisting in simplicity
The beauty of Iris's design consists in its perfect balance of shape and color.
consist in + noun phrase explaining the essential quality
True leadership does not consist in giving orders but in earning respect.
The main difficulty consisted in finding enough nurses with intensive-care training.
Mira's happiness consists in helping others, not in acquiring possessions.
文法句型
Subject + consist + in + noun/gerund
用法筆記
Always followed by 'in' + noun or gerund. This sense is formal and uncommon in casual conversation. In everyday English, 'lie in' is more frequent.
常見錯誤
3. to match or be in agreement with something else, especially when comparing state
to match or be in agreement with something else, especially when comparing statements, actions, or facts for compatibility
The witness account does not consist with the security footage from the lobby.
negative form: does not consist with
Omar's actions hardly consist with the values he talks about in public.
The new evidence consists with what Dr. Chen had reported earlier.
Does this policy consist with the company's stated commitment to sustainability?
- be consistent with
far more common in modern English
- accord with
formal; suggests harmony of ideas
- harmonize with
emphasizes compatibility and lack of conflict
- contradict
stronger; suggests direct opposition
文法句型
Subject + consist + with + noun phrase
用法筆記
Most common in negative or question forms. In affirmative sentences, 'be consistent with' is far more natural in modern English.
常見錯誤
consist — noun
1. the group of parts or items that make up a whole, especially the set of cars tha
the group of parts or items that make up a whole, especially the set of cars that form a train or the mixture of different sizes in a material such as coal
The train consist included two dining cars, six passenger cars, and a luggage van.
train consist (the cars that make up a train)
Engineers examined the coal consist to check how much large and small material it contained.
The station master reviewed the consist before authorizing the train to depart.
The cargo consist of this train includes 20 coal cars and 3 tankers.
- composition
more general; can be used in any context
- makeup
less formal; common in everyday English
用法筆記
A technical term rarely used outside of railway operations and mining engineering. Not suitable for general conversation or writing.