Clothes

These words name the clothes we wear and help you say what someone is wearing. For what someone has on now, use ⟦is wearing⟧ or ⟦are wearing⟧: ⟦She is wearing a red coat.⟧ Some words are always plural: ⟦trousers⟧, ⟦jeans⟧, ⟦shorts⟧, ⟦pyjamas⟧ (⟦a pair of jeans⟧).

Key facts

  • On your body: ⟦shirt⟧, ⟦T-shirt⟧, ⟦sweater⟧, ⟦dress⟧, ⟦coat⟧, ⟦jacket⟧. On your legs: ⟦trousers⟧, ⟦jeans⟧, ⟦shorts⟧, ⟦skirt⟧.
  • On your feet: ⟦shoes⟧, ⟦socks⟧, ⟦boots⟧, ⟦sandals⟧. On your head: ⟦hat⟧, ⟦cap⟧, ⟦helmet⟧. Also: ⟦gloves⟧ (hands), ⟦scarf⟧ and ⟦tie⟧ (neck), ⟦belt⟧.
  • Weather clothes: ⟦raincoat⟧ for rain, ⟦scarf⟧ and ⟦gloves⟧ for cold, ⟦swimsuit⟧ for the beach.
  • Now: ⟦He is wearing a blue shirt.⟧ Every day: ⟦We wear a uniform to school.⟧ Verbs: ⟦put on⟧, ⟦take off⟧, ⟦get dressed⟧.
  • American English: ⟦pants⟧ for ⟦trousers⟧, ⟦pajamas⟧ for ⟦pyjamas⟧, ⟦sneakers⟧ for ⟦trainers⟧.

Worked examples

Example 1

What do you wear on your feet: ⟦gloves⟧, ⟦boots⟧ or ⟦a scarf⟧?

  1. ⟦gloves⟧ go on your hands and ⟦a scarf⟧ goes around your neck.
  2. ⟦boots⟧ go on your feet.

Answer: ⟦boots⟧

Example 2

Complete: ⟦It's raining. Put on your ___.⟧

  1. Rain makes you wet.
  2. A ⟦raincoat⟧ keeps you dry: ⟦Put on your raincoat.⟧

Answer: ⟦raincoat⟧

Example 3

Complete: ⟦Priya ___ a green jacket today.⟧

  1. It is about today, now: present continuous.
  2. One person: ⟦is wearing⟧: ⟦Priya is wearing a green jacket today.⟧

Answer: ⟦is wearing⟧