Phrasal verb
consist of sb/sth
Definition
phrasal verb. to be made of or formed from specific people or things.
phrasal verb. to be composed of or made up of specific parts or members; used to describe the constituent elements of a whole.
Examples
“The team consists of ten players.”
“The breakfast menu consists of fresh fruit, cereal, and a selection of pastries.”
“The committee consists of representatives from various departments who meet monthly to discuss the company's long-term sustainability goals.”
Examples
simple
“The team consists of ten players.”
contextual
“The breakfast menu consists of fresh fruit, cereal, and a selection of pastries.”
complex
“The committee consists of representatives from various departments who meet monthly to discuss the company's long-term sustainability goals.”
Usage
always used in the active voice and followed by the preposition 'of'.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'comprise' (more formal) and 'be made up of' (more common in speech); remind students that 'consist' is never used in the passive voice.
Pitfall
The cake is consisted of flour and sugar.
The cake consists of flour and sugar.
this verb is never used in the passive voice; use the active form instead.
Phrasal verb
Particles
of
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
consist + of + object