TKG English Learner's Dictionary

consist

consistverb

American /kən.ˈsɪst/ British /kən.ˈsɪst/ The stress is on the second part: kun-SIST.
third-person singular consists past tense consisted past participle consisted present participle consisting
very commondefining vocabulary

  1. be made ofbe formed from two or more parts or things

    Always followed by of in this sense.

    intransitive [I] verb + preposition + object [V + prep + obj] not used in the passive [no passive] not used in continuous tenses [no continuous]

    Collocations

    verb + preposition consist of something
    adverb + verb consist mainly of, consist largely of, consist entirely of

    Compare comprise (formal; no of after it); include (names only some of the parts)

  2. have as main parthave something as its main or only part or feature

    Followed by in, often with an -ing form.

    intransitive [I] verb + preposition + object [V + prep + obj] not used in the passive [no passive] not used in continuous tenses [no continuous] formal

    Collocations

    verb + preposition consist in something, consist in doing something

Usage

Consist of is always active, and it is not used in continuous tenses. The passive phrases be made up of and be composed of mean the same: the team is made up of five players.

Common mistakes

The team is consisted of five players. The team consists of five players.
Consist of is never passive.
The meal is consisting of three courses. The meal consists of three courses.
Consist is not used in continuous tenses.

See also make up (be made up of means the same as consist of)

For translators

Grammar trap Consist of is active and never continuous: the book consists of five parts, not is consisted of or is consisting of. Where another language uses a passive or reflexive form here, English uses this active verb.