“be composed of”是英语中表示“组成关系”的核心短语,以下是其含义、用法细节及常见搭配的完整解析:
主语:整体(如团队、物体、物质、抽象概念等);
宾语:组成部分(可数名词复数/不可数名词,需明确列出具体成分);
形式:被动语态(因“compose”作“组成”讲时,主动语态通常用于“创作者构成作品”,如“The writer composed the novel.”,而“整体由部分组成”需用被动)。
基本结构:`主语(整体) + be(时态变化) + composed of + 宾语(部分)`
一般现在时:主语单数用`is composed of`,复数用`are composed of`;
一般过去时:主语单数用`was composed of`,复数用`were composed of`;
完成时:`has/have been composed of`(强调“从过去到现在的组成状态”)。
具体物体/物质:Water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen.(水由氢和氧组成。)
组织/团队:The committee is composed of five experts from different fields.(委员会由来自不同领域的五位专家组成。)
抽象事物:Her happiness is composed of small, daily joys.(她的幸福由日常的小快乐构成。)
文艺作品:The painting is composed of bold lines and vibrant colors.(这幅画由粗犷的线条和鲜艳的色彩构成。)
为避免混淆,可对比以下同义短语的风格/侧重点:
短语 | 风格/侧重点 | 例子 |
---|---|---|
be composed of | 最正式,常用于书面语、学术/科技文本,强调“严谨的组成关系” | The atmosphere is composed of 78% nitrogen. |
be made up of | 口语化,日常对话中常用,侧重“松散的组合”(部分可分离) | The team is made up of ten players. |
consist of | 无被动语态,侧重“自然/固有组成”(部分是整体的固有成分) | The book consists of twelve chapters. |
不能用主动语态:× The team composes of ten players.(错误)→ √ The team is composed of ten players.(正确);
宾语需是“部分”:不能说“The five experts are composed of the committee.”(颠倒整体与部分)→ 应说“The committee is composed of five experts.”
“be composed of”是正式场合下描述“整体-部分关系”的首选短语,核心是“被动语态+整体作主语+部分作宾语”。掌握其用法后,可精准表达“组成”的严谨性,尤其适用于论文、报告等正式文本。