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TOEIC Link Part 5: comprise versus compose versus consist

The whole comprises the parts; the parts compose the whole; the whole consists of the parts. Part 5 tests these three because each one points the part-whole relationship in a different direction and each takes a different preposition, so the subject and the following word together decide which form is correct.

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TOEIC Link Part 5: comprise versus compose versus consist

These three verbs all express the same idea — how parts and a whole fit together — but they point in different directions and demand different prepositions. Part 5 exploits exactly that, because a test-taker who knows the meaning can still pick the wrong word if they ignore which one is the subject and which preposition follows the blank. Getting them right is a matter of mapping the part-whole direction onto the correct verb. For the underlying discipline of reading what the slot demands before answering, see word choice versus word form.

The core rule: direction and preposition

  • comprise — the whole comprises the parts, and it takes no preposition: The committee comprises twelve members. / The report comprises four sections. Think: whole → parts, directly, no "of."
  • consist of — the whole consists OF the parts, always with of: The committee consists of twelve members. / The package consists of a manual and a warranty card. Think: whole → parts, with "of."
  • compose (usually passive, be composed of) — the parts compose the whole, or the whole is composed of parts: Twelve members compose the committee. / The committee is composed of twelve members. Think: parts → whole.

Two of these (comprise, consist of) take the whole as subject; one (compose, in its active form) takes the parts as subject. That direction switch is the heart of the question.

The classic trap: "is comprised of"

The single most tested error is "is comprised of." Standard TOEIC-register English treats it as incorrect: because comprise already means "to contain," adding the passive is...of doubles the meaning. The accepted forms are:

  • ✅ The committee comprises twelve members. (active, no of)
  • ✅ The committee is composed of twelve members. (passive compose, with of)
  • ✅ The committee consists of twelve members.
  • ❌ The committee is comprised of twelve members. (avoid on TOEIC)

So if you see a blank before of and the choices include comprised and composed, the safe answer is composed. If the blank takes no of at all and the whole is the subject, comprises is right. The preposition is the tell — exactly the kind of one-word signal that also settles adverse versus averse, where the presence of to decides the answer.

Worked Part 5 examples

  1. The training program __ three modules. → comprises (whole as subject, no of; or consists of if of were present).
  2. The board __ of five external directors. → consists (the word of follows; comprises cannot take of).
  3. The alloy is __ of copper and tin. → composed (passive be composed of; "is comprised of" is the trap).
  4. Several departments __ the new division. → compose (the parts are the subject, so the parts-to-whole verb is needed).

A fast decision procedure

  1. Find the subject. Is it the whole (committee, report, package) or the parts (members, sections, departments)?
  2. Check the word after the blank. Is of there?
  3. Apply the map: whole + no of → comprises; whole + of → consists of / is composed of; parts as subject → compose.
  4. If both comprised and composed appear before of, choose composed every time.

Quick recap

  • comprise = whole contains parts, no of — The set comprises six pieces.
  • consist of = whole made up of parts, always of — The set consists of six pieces.
  • be composed of = whole made up of parts, passive — The set is composed of six pieces.
  • Never write "is comprised of" on TOEIC.

Part-whole verbs reward students who read the subject and the preposition together rather than translating to a single fuzzy meaning. For more pairs where one function word flips the answer, revisit by versus until.