clothes 和 clothing 均可表示“衣服”,用作“衣服”的統(tǒng)稱,但在用法上有差別: 1.clothes 是一個(gè)沒有單數(shù)形式的複數(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, few 等詞脩飾。如: 正:those clothes / few clothes / many clothes 誤:a clothes / two clothes / three clothes 2. clothing 是不可數(shù)名詞。如: They wear very little clothing. 他們衣服穿得很少。 3. 比較而言:clothes 的含義比較具躰,而 clothing 的含義則比較抽象。從語躰上看,clothing 比 clothes 更正式。比較: I changed my clothes. 我換了衣服。 He is washing his clothes. 他在洗衣服。 Our clothing protects us against the cold. 我們的衣服可以禦寒。 We are well provided with food and clothing. 我們喫得好,穿得好。 若不考慮其細(xì)微區(qū)別,兩者??蓳Q用(注:一個(gè)是複數(shù),一個(gè)不可數(shù))。如: He spent a lot of money on clothes [clothing]. 他花了許多錢買衣服。