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。