substance, material, matter 的区别：

substance, material, matter 这三个词组都可作“物质，材料”讲。

1. material：“物质，物资，材料”，一般指具物理成份，构成某具体物体的物质，尤指人造物品的制作材料；有时则引申为现实观念或现实的根据或基础。如：raw material原材料，指能够进一步加工的物质，也指可以被进一步利用的事件，观念等，例如用作文学素材。

With the development of industry, the consumption of raw material by industry has been rising surprisingly.

随着工业的发展，工业所消耗的原材料增长惊人。

They discovered that they could weave the wool into the material, which can be made into warm coats and suits.

他们发现可以把羊毛纺成衣料，再把衣料制成暖和的外套和西装。

2. matter：“物质，内容”，基本上指某种实体或构成所有客观事物的“物质”，与精神相对；也指与形式相对的“内容”。常用短语：a matter of course 理所当然的事, matter-of-fact 讲求实际的。

The matter in your composition is quite good, but the writing is not lucid enough.

你的作文内容很好，但文字不够清楚。

We know nothing about force or energy, nor of any physical phenomenon, except through the agency of matter.

要是不通过物质这个媒介，我们对力或能会一无所知，更不会了解任何物理现象。

3. substance：“物质，东西"，常指具有某种物理或化学性质的特殊物质，或指构成某物，并赋予某种特性的物质；还可指 “重要的”或“实际性的”内容。常用短语：a question of substance 实质性问题；have substance 有道理，有根据，有内容。

The function of the root of a plant is to fix the plant in its place and to take in water and food substance present in the earth.

植物根的功能是将植物固定在所处的位置，并从土壤中吸收水及营养物质。

A good chemical laboratory is equipped with precision instruments and supplies of many chemical substances.

一个好的化学实验室应配有精密仪器，并有充足的各种化学物质供应。