English · A1 · vocabulary · 4 minutes
Clothes
Describe a current outfit with wear and color words.
Understand the choice
Clothing descriptions combine item number, color, and time. Shoes, socks, and trousers are usually plural; jacket, shirt, dress, hat, and coat are countable singulars.
Core rule: Use be wearing for the current outfit and wear for habits; clothing nouns and color adjectives do not agree.
Notice it in context
Maya is wearing a blue jacket and black shoes.
Maya lleva una chaqueta azul y zapatos negros.
Is wearing is present continuous for now; jacket is singular and shoes plural.
In winter, I wear a warm coat and a hat.
A coat and hat are my usual winter clothing.
Coat and hat appear with habitual wear.
The black trousers go well with the white shirt.
The black leg garment matches the white upper garment.
Trousers is plural; shirt singular; colors remain unchanged.
What to remember
- US English usually says pants where UK English says trousers.
- A pair of trousers/shoes counts one set.
Common trap: Do not say Maya wears now when emphasizing the outfit at this moment.