clothes/clothing- is/are?

Question

Hello!I just read that 'clothing' is an uncountable noun'cothes' is a countable noun but can't be used in singular or with a number.Therefore,'Clothing is ~~~~ '   =&gt;     possible.'Clothes are ~~~~~ '  =&gt; possible'Clothes is ~~~~~ '  =&gt;  impossible'four clothes are ~~~' =&gt; impossible..................................................................................If then, what about the next sentences.  Are they grammtical or not?-- Women were wearing two-piece clothes.-- Two-piece clothes are expensive.-- The clothes are expensive.   ( The clothes is expensive ----wrong)-- A piece of clothes is teared. -- Two pieces of clothes are teared.Thank you!!

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

I just read that

'clothing' is an uncountable noun

'cothes' is a countable noun but can't be used in singular or with a number.

Therefore,

'Clothing is ~~~~ ' => possible.

'Clothes are ~~~~~ ' => possible

'Clothes is ~~~~~ ' => impossible

'four clothes are ~~~' => impossible

I agree about all of the above.

..................................................................................

If then, what about the next sentences. Are they grammtical or not?

-- Women were wearing two-piece clothes. It's not idiomatic to use the word 'clothes' here. Maybe say 'two-piece outfits'.

-- Two-piece clothes are expensive. Ditto

-- The clothes are expensive. OK ( The clothes is expensive ----wrong yes, wrong)

-- A piece of clothes is teared. 'torn', not 'teared'. Not idiomatic to say 'a piece of clothing'. You could say 'some of his clothes were torn', 'an item of his clothing was torn', 'his shirt was torn'.

-- Two pieces of clothes are teared. similar comment

How and when we use the word 'clothes' tends to be quite idiomatic. My advice is to use specific words like 'skirt, shirt, jacket, pants, etc' to talk about details.

Best wishes, Clive

Jisu98 · Answer

Thank you much!

It was a good help.

Vera Shan · Answer

I like go shopping to see the fashionable and beautiful clothes and learn how to dress myself.Nowadays i try to pick up some blonde wigs to wear for changing my own hairstyle.

Clive · Answer

I like go shopping to see the fashionable and beautiful clothes and learn how to dress myself.Nowadays i try to pick up some blonde wigs to wear for changing my own hairstyle.

I like to go shopping to look at fashionable and beautiful clothes and learn how to dress myself. Nowadays I try to pick up some blonde wigs to wear to change my hairstyle.

Anonymous · Answer

This was a great help! My little brother, who is the biggest grammar cop ever know and even corrects his teachers in class, made a slip this morning and said something about how "the new clothes is cool". He's always teasing me because I say "me and ___" to start off my sentences. After I caught him, I had to pull up this forum because my brother kept saying that he had made no mistake because there was no singular form to the word clothes. He's under his bed right now and screams whenever I tease him about it, so thanks for helping me put him in his place!

clothes/clothing- is/are?

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