Meaning & use
consist
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Meanings
verbintransitive
To be made up of particular parts or elements.
Grammar: Always followed by 'of'; not used in the passive.
Patterns
- consist of something
The team consists of five members.
Her diet consists mainly of vegetables.
The exam consists of three parts.
verbintransitiveformal
To have something as a main or essential feature.
Grammar: Followed by 'in'; formal.
Patterns
- consist in something
True happiness consists in helping others.
The beauty of the plan consists in its simplicity.
Word forms
| third person singular | consists |
|---|---|
| past tense | consisted |
| past participle | consisted |
| -ing form | consisting |
Common combinations
- consist of
- The committee consists of ten people.
- consist mainly of
- The audience consisted mainly of students.
- consist in
- The problem consists in finding enough time.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- consistency noun
- The quality of always behaving in the same way.
- consistent adjective
- Always behaving or happening in a similar way.
Commonly confused: consist or compose?
consist vs compose
Compose means 'to make up' and is used in the passive 'be composed of'; consist is never passive.
Practice
The cake ___ of flour, eggs, and sugar.
Choose one answer.
The subject 'cake' is singular, so the verb takes -s: 'consists'. 'Consist' is never used in the passive, so 'is consisted' is wrong.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “consist”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.