1. 是衣服的統(tǒng)稱,不僅包括coat, shirt, dress等這樣的“衣服”,而且還包括 trousers, socks等穿在身上的所有東西。
2. 表示“衣服”,是一個沒有單數(shù)形式的復數(shù)名詞,其前不可加不定冠詞,也不可加數(shù)詞,但可用 some, these, those, many, (a) few等詞修飾。如:
I need to buy some clothes. 我需要買些衣服。
These clothes wash well. 這些衣服經(jīng)洗。
You look rather shabby in those clothes. 你穿著那種衣服顯得很寒酸。
I don’t have many clothes for summer. 我夏天穿的衣服不多。
As a student she lived very economically, rarely going out and buying very few clothes. 作為學生,她過得很節(jié)約,很少外出,也難得買衣服。
3. 雖然不受數(shù)詞的修飾,但使用代詞時可用ones。如:
When he got a job in a bank, he had to wear formal clothes instead of informal ones. 他在銀行謀了份工作后不得不把非正式衣服換成正式衣服。
4. 可受某些名詞修飾,表示不同用途的衣服,如school clothes(校服),sports clothes(運動服),work clothes(工作服),play clothes(休閑服)等。
它還可以受季節(jié)名詞修飾,表示不同季節(jié)穿的服裝,如spring clothes(春裝)、summer clothes(夏裝)、autumn clothes(秋裝)、winter clothes(冬裝)。
另外還有men’s clothes(男裝),women’s clothes(女裝),children’s clothes(童裝)等,但是“嬰兒服裝”卻是baby clothes,通常不說babies’ clothes。
5. 表示一套衣服,可以借助suit或set。如:
George is wearing a new suit of clothes. 喬治穿著一套新衣服。
I’m going to take a set of clean clothes with me. 我要帶一套干凈的衣服。
二、clothing 用法補充
1. 表示“衣服”的總稱,是一個不可數(shù)的集合名詞。如:
We need warm clothing for the winter. 我們需要暖和的衣服過冬。
用作主語時,其后謂語動詞要用單數(shù)。如:
Loose clothing gives you greater freedom of movement. 穿寬松的衣服就能活動自如。
2. 表示一件衣服,可借助單位詞article, item或piece。如:
A coat is an article of clothing. 上衣是一件衣服。
The police examined several items of clothing. 警方檢查了幾件衣服。
3. 漢語說“衣食”,但英語通常說成food and clothing。如:
We are well provided with food and clothing. 我們吃得好,穿得好。
Food, clothing and shelter are all basic necessities of life. 衣、食、住所是生活的基本必需品。
4. 習語 a wolf in sheep’s clothing 的意思是“披著羊皮的狼”,其中的clothing習慣上不能換成clothes。如:
He is not to be trusted. He is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. 他是不能相信的,他是一個偽君子。
They were our worst enemies—wolves in sheep’s clothing. 他們是我們最危險的敵人——是披著羊皮的狼。