首先必须明白：
clothes是复数名词，clothing是不可数名词
clothes比较表示比较具体的衣服，而 clothing是比较抽象的衣服
一、clothes 的用法
1.是衣服的统称,不仅包括 coat, shirt, dress 等这样的“衣服”,而且还包括 trousers, socks 等穿在身上的所有东西.
The clothes have been rinsed three times.
衣服已经洗了三水。
Others donated secondhand clothes
其他人捐赠了一些旧衣服。
The clothes are worn-out.
衣服穿烂了。
She made liberal use of her elder sister's make-up and clothes.
她随便把姐姐的化妆品和衣服拿来用。
2.表示“衣服”,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,(a) few 等词修饰.如：
I need to buy some clothes.
我需要买些衣服。
She put in some clothes, odds and ends, and make-up
她将一些衣服、化妆品和零碎物品放了进去。
These clothes wash well.
这些衣服经洗。
You look rather shabby in those clothes.
你穿着那种衣服显得很寒酸。
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.
作为学生,她过得很节约,很少外出,也难得买衣服。
He's really gone to town; you should see how many clothes he's bought.
他真是滥花钱，你瞧他买了那么多衣服。
3.虽然不受数词的修饰,但使用代词时可用ones.如：
When he got a job in a bank, he had to wear formal clothes instead of informal ones.
他在银行谋了份工作后不得不把非正式衣服换成正式衣服。
4.可受某些名词修饰,表示不同用途的衣服,如school clothes（校服）,sports clothes（运动服）,work clothes（工作服）,play clothes（休闲服）等.
它还可以受季节名词修饰,表示不同季节穿的服装,如spring clothes（春装）、summer clothes（夏装）、autumn clothes（秋装）、winter clothes（冬装）.另外还有men’s clothes（男装）,women’s clothes（女装）,children’s clothes（童装）等
He dressed quickly in casual clothes.
他很快穿上休闲装。
He donned work clothes and a wicker helmet.
他穿上工作服，戴上柳条帽。
5.表示一套衣服,可以借助suit或change 、set.如：
George is wearing a new suit of clothes.
乔治穿着一套新衣服。
I’m going to take a set of clean clothes with me.
我要带一套干净的衣服。
Bring a change of clothes with you.
你要带上一套换洗衣服。
注意：指一件衣服用a piece/an item/an article of clothing。
二、clothing的用法
1.表示“衣服”的总称,是一个不可数的集合名词.如：
I threw off my clothing quickly and ran a warm bath.
我很快脱了衣服，放上洗澡的热水。
We need warm clothing for the winter.
我们需要暖和的衣服过冬。
用作主语时,其后谓语动词要用单数.如：
Loose clothing gives you greater freedom of movement.
穿宽松的衣服就能活动自如。
2.表示一件衣服,可借助单位词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.
警方检查了几件衣服。
a piece of clothing 指一件衣服：
What is your favourite item of clothing?
你最喜欢的衣服是哪一件？
3.汉语说“衣食”,但英语通常说成food and clothing.如：
We are well provided with food and clothing.
我们吃得好,穿得好。
It is urgent that food and clothing be sent to the famine victims.
急需将食物和衣服送给饥民。
The girls were all in their summer clothing.
姑娘们都穿着夏装。
He wore special protective clothing.
他穿着特制的防护服。
Food, clothing and shelter are all basic necessities of life.
衣、食、住所是生活的基本必需品。
My wife was fussing over the food and clothing we were going to take
我太太正在忙乱地准备我们要带的食物和衣服。
4.习语a wolf in sheep’s clothing的意思是“披着羊皮的狼”,其中的clothing习惯上不能换成clothes.如：
He is not to be trusted. He is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
他是不能相信的,他是一个伪君子。
They were our worst enemies—wolves in sheep’s clothing.
他们是我们最危险的敌人——是披着羊皮的狼。
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。
5. clothing除了衣服之外，还包括鞋帽以及其他种类的衣服。
clothing store服装店
warm clothing
保暖服
Clothing stores also face heavy competition from factory outlets.
成衣店也面临着来自工厂直销店的激烈竞争。
Wear protective clothing.
请穿防护服。
I am well-off for winter clothing.
我的冬衣很充裕。
The first planeloads of food, children's clothing and medical suppliesbegan arriving.
首批飞机运送的食物、儿童衣物和药品开始抵达。
三、cloth是不可数名词，“布料、织物”；当 cloth用来指特定用途的布（tablecloth, deskcloth）时，它就是一个可数名词，可以有复数形式：cloths；
Cloth is usually sold by the yard.（不可数名词）
布通常是按码卖的。
She cleaned the window with an old cloth.她用一块旧布擦窗户。
Clean the surface with a damp cloth.
用湿布清洁表面。
She wiped the table with a damp cloth.
她用湿布擦了一下桌子。
He shoved a cloth in my hand.
他往我手中塞了块布。
He was holding a cloth that dripped pink drops upon the floor.
他正拿着一块布，布上粉红色的水滴落在地板上。
My father's working bench was covered with a cloth and his coffin was laid there
爸爸的工作台上盖了一块布，他的灵枢就陈放在那儿。
Have you any cloths for polishing the furniture?你有擦家具的布吗？
Use a cloth to wrap up the wound.
用布把伤口包起来。
Clean the metal with a soft dry cloth
用柔软的干布擦拭金属。
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