1.clothes和clothing均可表示衣服的统称,但clothes是一个没有单数形式的复数名词(永远是复数),而clothing则是一个没有复数形式的不可数名词(永远不可数)。如:
Soak the clothes in cold water. 把这些衣服浸泡在冷水里。
婴儿服装:baby clothes
You shouldn’t wear informal clothes to an interview. 参加面试,不应该穿得随随便便的。
clothes是一个没有单数形式的复数名词,其前不可加不定冠词,也不可加数词,但可用some,these,those,many,few等词修饰。如:
正:those clothes/few clothes/many clothes。
误:a clothes/two clothes/three clothes。
Clothes虽然不受数词的修饰,但使用代词时可用ones。如:
When he got a job in a bank, he had to wear formal clothes instead of informal ones.
他在银行谋了份工作后不得不把非正式衣服换成正式衣服。
clothing是不可数名词。集合名词,是衣服的总称。指的是区别于食物、水等的抽象的“衣服,服装”之含义。如:
They wear very little clothing.他们衣服穿得很少。
Children depend on their parents for food and clothing.
小孩依赖他们的父母供给衣食。
This clothing sells well to the teenage market.
这种衣服在青少年中间很畅销。
两者比较而言,clothes的含义比较具体,而clothing的含义则比较抽象。如:
She hung the clothes on the line to dry. 她把衣服挂在绳上晾干。
Our clothing protects us against the cold. 我们的衣服可以御寒。
I changed my clothes.我换了衣服。
He is washing his clothes.他在洗衣服。
I need to buy some clothes.
我需要买些衣服。
I don’t have many clothes for summer.
我夏天穿的衣服不多。
Our clothing protects us against the cold.我们的衣服可以御寒。
We are well provided with food and clothing.我们吃得好,穿得好。
We need warm clothing for the winter.
我们需要暖和的衣服过冬。
用作主语时,其后谓语动词要用单数。如:
Loose clothing gives you greater freedom of movement.
穿宽松的衣服就能活动自如。
但是, 若不考虑其细微区别,clothes和clothing常可换用。如:
Warm clothes are [clothing is] a must in the mountains. 在山里厚衣服是必不可少的。
另外,在a wolf in sheep’s clothing(披着羊皮的狼)这一习语中,习惯上用clothing。如:
He turned out to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. 他原来是只披着羊皮的狼。
He certainly seems harmless enough, but is he a wolf in sheep’s clothing? 看起来他倒是十分和善,但会不会是披着羊皮的狼?
表示一套衣服,可以借助suit或set。如:
George is wearing a new suit of clothes.
乔治穿着一套新衣服。
I’m going to take a set of clean clothes with me.
我要带一套干净的衣服。
常用词汇搭配
summer clothing 夏装 winter clothing 冬装
change clothing 换衣服 put on clothing 穿上衣服
wear clothing 穿衣服 sell clothes 卖衣服
sew clothes 缝衣服 take off clothes 脱下衣服
try on clothes 试衣服 wash clothes 洗衣服