Comprise vs. Consist

Attribute	Comprise	Consist
Definition	Includes or contains	Is made up of
Usage	Used to indicate parts of a whole	Used to indicate components of a whole
Subject-Verb Agreement	Is followed by a plural verb	Is followed by a singular verb
Directionality	Can be used in both directions	Typically used in one direction

Definition

Comprise and consist are two verbs that are often confused due to their similar meanings. Comprise means to include or contain something, while consist means to be made up of or composed of something. For example, a fruit salad comprises various fruits, while a fruit salad consists of various fruits.

Usage

Comprise is typically used in a sentence where the whole is made up of its parts. For instance, "The team comprises players from different countries." On the other hand, consist is used when describing what something is made of. For example, "The team consists of players from different countries."

Structure

Comprise is often followed by a list of individual parts that make up the whole. For example, "The committee comprises representatives from each department." Consist, on the other hand, is followed by a singular noun that represents the whole. For instance, "The committee consists of representatives from each department."

Subject-Verb Agreement

When using comprise, the verb should agree with the subject that comes after it. For example, "The committee comprises representatives." Consist, on the other hand, requires the verb to agree with the subject that comes before it. For instance, "The representatives consist of the committee."

Common Mistakes

One common mistake is using "comprised of" instead of "comprising" or "comprised." The correct usage is "The team is comprised of players from different countries" or "The team comprises players from different countries." Another mistake is using "consists of" when "consists" would suffice. For example, "The team consists of of players from different countries" should be "The team consists of players from different countries."

Examples

• Correct: The book comprises three chapters.
• Incorrect: The book is comprised of three chapters.
• Correct: The book consists of three chapters.
• Incorrect: The book consists three chapters.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while comprise and consist are similar in meaning, they are used in different contexts and have distinct structures. Comprise is used when referring to the parts that make up a whole, while consist is used when describing what something is made of. By understanding the differences between these two verbs, you can avoid common mistakes and improve your writing skills.