compose, comprise, consist, constitute这些动词均含"组成，构成"之意。不过它们有很大的差别。
compose是正式用词，多用被动态。指将两个或两个以上的人或物放到一起形成一个整体。
England， Scotland and Wales compose the island of Great Britain.
英格兰、苏格兰和威尔士构成大不列颠岛。
Perhaps we should just list the basic particles that physicists tell us compose the world, or perhaps just matter.
也许我们应该只列出，物理学家所告诉我们的组成这个世界的基本微粒，或者说物质。
Figure 1 shows how the first three elements compose the core requirements.
图 1 展示了开头的三个元素如何组成核心需求。
It is black in misfortune, it is blacker still in crime; these two blacknesses amalgamated, composeslang.
人在苦难时眼前一片黑，犯罪时眼前更黑，这两种黑凝结在一起便构成黑话。
comprise也是 正式用词，指整体是由几个独立的部分所组成。
These objects comprise functions and data of the system.
这些对象包含系统的功能和数据。
Keeping the various documents that comprise the design in phase with each other is a real problemwith a large design, but it is critical.
将包含各阶段设计的各种文档保存在一起对于大型设计而言是真正的问题，但它很关键。
Create a large image made up of smaller tiles that comprise a subject related to the pie slice.
创建一张由许多小贴图构成的大图像，这些小图像包含与饼图分区相关的主题。
These anti-patterns comprise model elements that are too loosely defined, and thus potentiallyrequire refinement by adding textual constraints.
这些反模式包含过于松散定义的模型元素，因而可能需要通过增加文本的约束来精化。
consist of一般连用，指一个整体由几个部分组成，或由某些材料构成。
They always consist of a single, inlined region.
它们始终有单一的、内联的区域组成。
Some workflows are completely automatic, and some consist of manual tasks that must beperformed by people.
有些工作流是完全自动的，而有些则由必须通过人来执行的手工任务组成。
Operations consist of an exchange of service-specific messages.
操作由特定于服务的消息交换组成。
As mentioned above, our bank will consist of only one table.
像上面所提及的，我们的银行仅仅包含一张表。
So what should a real interview consist of?
那么，一场真正的面试包括什么呢？
constitute 也是正式用词，指由某些部分组成一个整体或构成某物的基本成分。在句中，主语表事物的组成部分，宾语表示事物的整体。
Four quarts constitute a gallon.
四夸脱构成一加仑。
They do not constitute a complete and continuous set of memoranda.
他们不能构成一个完整的、持续的一整套备忘录。
They constitute your memories; where you were, what you were doing, what you were interestedin, what you were thinking of.
它们组成了你的回忆；你曾在哪里，你曾做了什么，你曾对什么感兴趣，你曾思考过什么。