clothes 是“衣服”,指具体的衣服,不能用作单数,也不能和数词连用。不能说a clothes,five clothes,也不说The clothes is …,而应说The clothes are…。例如:
She is dressed in her everyday clothes.她穿着日常穿的衣服。
He wears fine clothes.他穿着讲究。
Where did you get your clothes made?你的衣服在哪做的?
clothing 是衣服、服装的总称,是集体名词,没有复数形式。可以说an article of clothing,a piece of clothing一件衣服。例如:
The orphans are well provided with food and clothing.孤儿的衣食供应很充足。
This shop sells men’s clothing.这家商店卖男装。
cloth 的意思是“布料”、“毛料”、“丝绸”(特别指布料和毛料)。Cloth在一般情况下是物质名词,不可数,没有复数,不能与不定冠词连用。例如:
a piece of cloth(不能说a cloth)一块布料
This piece of cloth is long enough for you to make a shirt.这块布够你做一件衬衣。
值得注意的是,cloth和某些词构成复合名词,作为特殊用途的一块布时,是可数名词。例如:
a tablecloth一块桌布
a dishcloth一块擦碗布
The waiter dried the glass with a dirty cloth.那个服务员用一块脏布擦干了玻璃。
一、首先应区分开 cloth 与 clothes / clothing:cloth表示“布”、“衣料”,是不可数名词。如:
She bought some cloth to make herself a dress. 她买了些布要给自己做一件连衣裙。
表示用作某种特殊用途的布(如:桌布,台布,揩布等),是可数名词。如:
Clean the windows with a soft cloth. 用块软布擦窗子。
二、clothes 和 clothing 均可表示“衣服”,用作“衣服”的统称,但在用法上有差别:
1.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
2. clothing 是不可数名词。如:
They wear very little clothing. 他们衣服穿得很少。
3. 比较而言:clothes 的含义比较具体,而 clothing 的含义则比较抽象。从语体上看,clothing 比 clothes 更正式。比较:
I changed my clothes. 我换了衣服。
He is washing his clothes. 他在洗衣服。
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。
若不考虑其细微区别,两者常可换用(注:一个是复数,一个不可数)。如:
He spent a lot of money on clothes [clothing]. 他花了许多钱买衣服。
都是一样的