clothes 和 clothing 均可表示“衣服”,用作“衣服”的统称,但在用法上有差别：
1.clothes 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, few 等词修饰.如：
正：those clothes / few clothes / many clothes
误：a clothes / two clothes / three clothes
2. clothing 是不可数名词.如：
They wear very little clothing. 他们衣服穿得很少.
3. 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.比较：
I changed my clothes. 我换了衣服.
He is washing his clothes. 他在洗衣服.
Our clothing protects us against the cold. 我们的衣服可以御寒.
We are well provided with food and clothing. 我们吃得好,穿得好.
若不考虑其细微区别,两者常可换用(注：一个是复数,一个不可数).如：
He spent a lot of money on clothes [clothing]. 他花了许多钱买衣服.