Paire confondue · C1
Comprise, compose or constitute?
The whole comprises the parts: the committee comprises nine members. The parts constitute the whole: nine members constitute the committee. Compose works in both directions but takes a passive with of: the committee is composed of nine members. What you should avoid is "is comprised of", which mixes two patterns.
Quel mot, et pourquoi
- comprise
the whole comprises the parts — never "is comprised of"
To consist of; to be made up of.
comprises three sections · the set comprises
- constitute
the parts constitute the whole
To be the parts that form something.
constitute a majority · constitute an offence
- compose
used passively, with "of"
To make up something, usually in the passive.
composed of · is composed largely of
À vous
5 exercices tirés de cette page. Rien n’est enregistré ailleurs que sur votre compte.
Les exercices et leurs explications sont en anglais. C’est volontaire : il s’agit de penser dans la langue que vous apprenez.
Question 1 sur 5
The collection four hundred photographs and a handful of letters.