1consist in somethingphrasal verbphr v formalDEPEND/IT DEPENDSto be based on or depend on something 在于,取决于
Happiness does not consist in how many possessions you own.
幸福不在于你拥有多少财产。
2consist of somethingphrasal verbphr vCONSIST OF/BE MADE OFto be formed from two or more things or people 由…构成,由…组成
The buffet consisted of several different Indian dishes.
自助餐由几种不同的印度菜组成。
consist mainly/largely/primarily of somebody/something
The audience consisted mainly of teenagers.
观众主要是青少年。
consist entirely/solely of somebody/something
The area does not consist entirely of rich people, despite popular belief.
这个地区并非全是富人,尽管大家普遍如此认为。
5Don’t say that something ‘is consisted of’ or ‘consists’ things or people. Say that it consists of things or people.
不要说 something ‘is consisted of’ 或 ‘consists’ things or people. 而要说 it consists of things or people.
nGrammar
Comparison
consist of
You say:
My family consists of four people.
✗Don’t say: My family consists in four people.
Consist is not used in the passive. ✗Don’t say: My family is consisted of four people.
be made up of
You say:
My family is made up of four people.
be composed of
You say:
My family is composed of four people.
Using the progressive
The verb consist is not used in the progressive. You say:
The building consists of four floors.
✗Don’t say: The building is consisting of four floors.
However, the participle form consisting is often used:
There is a large art collection, consisting of over 300 paintings.
THESAURUS
consist of/be made up of to be formed from two or more things or people 由…组成
Lunch consisted of sandwiches and fruit.
午餐由三明治和水果组成。
The apartment consisted of three rooms.
这套公寓有三个房间。
The audience was largely made up of families.
观众的组成主要是一个个家庭。
be composed of to consist of something – used especially when saying which naturalsubstances something contains, or what kind of people are in a group 由…组成〔尤指某物所含的天然物质或团体的人员组成〕
Every chemical element is composed of atoms.
每一种化学元素都由原子组成。
Venus’ atmosphere is mainly composed of carbon dioxide.
金星的大气主要由二氧化碳构成。
The team was composed of leading scientists from around the world.
这个小组由来自世界各地的杰出科学家组成。
comprise /kəmˈpraɪz/ formal to consist of the things mentioned. Comprise can also be used to talk about the people or things which form something 包含;构成
The event comprises a champagne reception, two-course lunch, and a fashion show.
活动包括香槟招待会、两道菜的午餐和时装表演。
Men still comprise the majority of people who have the disease.
男性依然是罹患这种疾病的主要人群。
make up (also constitute formal) to be the things or people that form something 构成,组成
Women constitute a significant part of the workforce.
女性构成了劳动力的重要部分。
Toys make up about 10% of the company’s sales.
玩具占公司销量的10%左右。
Examples from the Corpus
consist entirely/solely of somebody/something• Certainly, it is no justification in itself for ruling out ads consisting entirely of words.• He describes Lebna Dengel's capital as being the size of a town but consisting entirely of tents.• He proposeddesigning a plane consisting entirely of flattriangles.• In these terms, the originalpuzzle becomes that of why natural selection does not produce a population consisting entirely of hawks.• These should consist entirely of high upland in which no agricultural or forestry activities would take place.• These organizations usually consist entirely of older people committed to fightingelderly issues directly.