如果查英汉字典,意思当然相同。至于用法上,还是看英英字典比较正确。consist of/comprise/make up/constitute/be composed of/be comprised of/compose这几个动词的用法都很相近,都指包含、包括所指的人或事物,或指由~而组成。例句:
Their diet consists largely of vegetables.他们的饮食主要是蔬菜
注意:consist of不可用被动式
差别在哪?最重要的是:
Consist of sb/sth是以上用法中最普遍常用的。而且也是唯一可以后接动词Ving形式的。例如:My work at that time just consisted of typing letters.
be composed of sb/sth 或compose sth是较正式的用法,意思与consist of相同另一个重要的用法差别,在于使用上主词与受词的置换与动词的变化。 例如你可以说:The group consists of / comprises / is made up of / is composed of / is comprised of ten people. 意思都是「这团体由10个人组成」你也可以说
Ten people make up / constitute / comprise / compose the group.意思都是「10个人组成这团体」。
但是不可以说"comprises of"或 "is composed by / from",这种用法是错的