consist in

consist in — phrasal verb

  • consist inbase form
  • consists in3rd person singular
  • consisting in-ing form
  • consisted inpast simple

1. if you say something consists in a quality or activity, you mean that quality or

1.片語動詞不及物B2
釋義

if you say something consists in a quality or activity, you mean that quality or activity is its true nature or central feature — for example, a job consisting in answering phone calls, or happiness consisting in appreciating what you have.

例句

True happiness, according to Anong's grandmother, consists in appreciating small daily joys.

consist in + gerund (appreciating…)

The therapist's approach consists in helping patients find the root cause of their worries.

同義詞
  • lie in

    less formal, very common in everyday English for abstract qualities

  • be inherent in

    more formal, emphasises that something is a natural part of the thing

  • reside in

    formal and literary, used for qualities or rights that belong to something

文法句型

consist in + noun

consist in + gerund

用法筆記

Consist in is always followed by a noun or a gerund (an -ing form used as a noun). It is never followed by an infinitive. Do not confuse with consist of, which describes the physical parts that make up a whole rather than the essential nature of something.

常見錯誤

❌Good health consists of eating well and exercising.
✅Good health consists in eating well and exercising.
💡when describing the essential nature or key activity, use consist in, not consist of.
❌Her job consists to answer customer questions.
✅Her job consists in answering customer questions.
💡after consist in, use a gerund (-ing form), not an infinitive.