Series ID: EDKS-BASIC-ZH-0014 · Lesson No.014 · 零基础英语第十四课 · Pre-A1 → A1

Clothes and Colours | 衣服与颜色

I’m wearing a blue shirt. These trousers are too long. Do you have this in black?
我穿着一件蓝色衬衫。这条裤子太长了。这个有黑色的吗？

Clothes give beginners a rich set of useful English: colours, sizes, singular and plural nouns, this/that/these/those, wearing, choosing, comparing and asking for another item.

衣服主题非常适合零基础学习者，因为它会同时练到颜色、尺码、单复数、this/that/these/those、穿着、选择、比较和购物问句。

Chinese Edition Hub · 中文版入口 · ← Lesson No.013 · People and Descriptions

The lesson map | 本课路线

core clothes vocabulary
basic colours
light/dark shades
this/that/these/those with clothes
wear / be wearing
put on / take off
singular and plural clothing nouns
a pair of trousers / shoes / socks
size: small, medium, large
fit: tight, loose, long, short
patterns: plain, striped, checked
materials as recognition vocabulary
clothing for weather and occasion
changing-room requests
Do you have this in…?
Which one? / Which colour?
comparisons and preferences
Mandarin classifier transfer

1. Shirt | 衬衫

a shirt
a blue shirt
a white shirt

Example: I’m wearing a blue shirt.

2. T-shirt | T恤

a T-shirt
a black T-shirt
a plain T-shirt

The letter T is part of the word. Write T-shirt.

3. Trousers / pants | 裤子

British English commonly uses trousers. American English commonly uses pants for outer legwear.

These trousers are black.
My pants are too long.

trousers is grammatically plural in standard English.

4. Jeans | 牛仔裤

blue jeans
black jeans
a pair of jeans

Like trousers, jeans normally takes a plural verb: These jeans are new.

5. Shorts | 短裤

shorts
a pair of shorts
These shorts are comfortable.

6. Skirt and dress | 裙子和连衣裙

a skirt
a dress
a long skirt
a red dress

These are singular countable nouns, unlike trousers/jeans/shorts.

7. Jacket and coat | 夹克和外套

a jacket
a coat
a light jacket
a warm coat

Weather often determines which outer layer is useful.

8. Sweater / jumper | 毛衣

sweater is widely used. jumper is common in British English for a knitted top.

a grey sweater
a warm jumper

9. Shoes | 鞋

shoes
a pair of shoes
black shoes
sports shoes

One shoe = singular. Two shoes = plural. The usual purchase unit is a pair of shoes.

10. Socks | 袜子

a sock
two socks
a pair of socks

English pair language is important for clothing sold or worn in twos.

11. Hat, cap, scarf, gloves | 帽子、帽、围巾、手套

a hat
a cap
a scarf
gloves
a pair of gloves

These are useful for weather and identification.

12. Underwear and private vocabulary | 内衣词汇

Beginners may need practical clothing vocabulary for shopping or travel. Teach it neutrally and appropriately. Avoid turning private clothing into jokes or embarrassing classroom material.

13. Core colours | 基础颜色

red 红	blue 蓝	green 绿
yellow 黄	black 黑	white 白
grey 灰	brown 棕	orange 橙
pink 粉	purple 紫	beige 米色

14. Colour before noun | 颜色放在名词前

a blue shirt
black shoes
a red dress
grey trousers

English adjectives normally do not change form for plural nouns: black shoe / black shoes.

15. Be + colour | be + 颜色

The shirt is blue.
The shoes are black.
My coat is grey.

Two basic patterns:

colour + noun: a blue shirt
noun + be + colour: The shirt is blue.

16. Light and dark | 浅色和深色

light blue
dark blue
light grey
dark green

These are easy ways to expand colour vocabulary without learning dozens of special shade names.

17. Bright and pale | 鲜艳和浅淡

bright red
bright yellow
pale blue
pale pink

These are useful but slightly above the core colour set.

18. What colour is it? | 它是什么颜色？

What colour is the shirt?
It’s blue.
What colour are the shoes?
They’re black.

Notice singular is versus plural are.

19. Which colour? | 哪个颜色？

Which colour do you want?
Blue, please.
Which colour is better?

which is useful when the available options are visible or known.

20. This / that | 这一件 / 那一件

This shirt is nice.
That jacket is too big.
I like this one.
I don’t like that one.

Lesson 002’s demonstrative system becomes clothing-selection language.

21. These / those | 这些 / 那些

These shoes are comfortable.
Those trousers are too long.
I like these.
I don’t want those.

Plural clothing gives natural practice for these/those.

22. Wear | 穿 / 戴

I wear glasses.
She wears a uniform at work.
He wears black shoes to work.

wear describes clothing or accessories on the body, often as a habit or general pattern.

23. Be wearing | 正穿着

I’m wearing a blue shirt.
She’s wearing a red dress.
They’re wearing black shoes.

This continuous form focuses on now. You can use it as a practical chunk before studying the full tense system.

24. Put on | 穿上

Put on your coat.
I’m putting on my shoes.

put on describes the action of moving the clothing onto the body.

25. Take off | 脱下

Take off your shoes.
He took off his coat. — past-tense preview

wear = state on the body; put on = action onto the body; take off = action away from the body.

26. Size | 尺码

small
medium
large
extra large

Brand sizing varies. A medium in one shop may not match a medium elsewhere.

27. What size are you? | 你穿什么尺码？

What size are you?
I’m a medium.
What size do you need?
I need a large.

In real shopping, sizing systems differ by region and product. Check the actual label or size chart.

28. Too big / too small | 太大 / 太小

This is too big.
These shoes are too small.
The jacket is a little too large.

too means more than acceptable or desired, not simply “very”.

29. Tight and loose | 紧和松

These trousers are too tight.
This shirt is too loose.
The shoes feel tight.

Fit words describe how clothing sits on the body.

30. Too long / too short | 太长 / 太短

The sleeves are too long.
These trousers are too short.
The skirt is a little too long for me.

Here short describes length, not height.

31. It fits | 合身

It fits.
It fits well.
It doesn’t fit.
These shoes fit well.

fit is a verb here.

32. It suits you | 很适合你

It suits you can mean the style or colour looks good on you. This is different from physical size fit.

The jacket fits you. — size
The colour suits you. — appearance/style

33. Plain | 纯色 / 无图案

a plain white shirt
a plain black dress

plain can describe clothing without a strong pattern or decoration.

34. Striped | 条纹

a striped shirt
a blue-and-white striped shirt

35. Checked | 格纹

a checked shirt
a red checked skirt

Vocabulary varies by region; you may also hear plaid in some contexts.

36. Patterned | 有图案

patterned is a broad word for clothing with visible design.

a patterned dress
a patterned scarf

37. Materials | 材质

cotton
wool
leather
denim
silk

At beginner level, recognise common material labels. Do not assume the material without checking the product label.

38. A cotton shirt | 材质放在名词前

a cotton shirt
a wool coat
leather shoes
denim jeans

Material words often function like noun modifiers before the clothing noun.

39. Weather and clothes | 天气与穿衣

It’s cold. Wear a coat.
It’s raining. Take an umbrella.
It’s hot. A light shirt is better.

Clothing decisions connect language to real conditions.

40. Occasion | 场合

work clothes
school uniform
sports clothes
formal clothes
casual clothes

Dress expectations vary by culture, workplace and event. Ask or check when unsure.

41. Try on | 试穿

Can I try this on?
Can I try these on?
Where can I try this on?

try on means put clothing on temporarily to check fit or appearance.

42. Changing room | 试衣间

Where is the changing room?
Is there a changing room?
Can I try this on here?

In American English, fitting room is also common.

43. Do you have this in black? | 这个有黑色的吗？

Do you have this in black?
Do you have this in blue?
Do you have these in a larger size?

This is one of the highest-value clothing-shopping frames.

44. Do you have a smaller size? | 有小一点的吗？

Do you have a smaller size?
Do you have a larger size?
Do you have this in medium?

This reuses Lesson 011 questions and Lesson 013 comparatives.

45. Another one | 另一个

Can I see another one?
Do you have another colour?
Can I try another size?

another is useful when the first option is not right.

46. Prefer | 更喜欢

I prefer the blue one.
I prefer black.
I prefer the smaller size.

prefer gives a comparison without needing a full comparative sentence.

47. Better / more comfortable | 更好 / 更舒服

The blue one is better.
These shoes are more comfortable.
This jacket is lighter.

Comparative forms vary. Do not assume every adjective simply takes -er.

48. Clothing identification | 用衣服认人

the woman in the red dress
the man in the black jacket
the child wearing a blue cap

This directly extends Lesson 013.

49. Mandarin transfer: 一件 / 一条 / 一双 | 中文量词与英语计数

Mandarin uses different classifiers: 一件衬衫, 一条裤子, 一双鞋. English packages these differently:

a shirt
a pair of trousers
a pair of shoes

Do not search for a one-to-one English equivalent of 件, 条 or 双. Learn the noun’s English counting pattern.

50. Mandarin transfer: 裤子 | trousers is plural

This trouser is… ✗ for ordinary whole garment reference
These trousers are… ✓
This pair of trousers is… ✓

The noun and the pair expression have different agreement.

51. Mandarin transfer: 穿 | wear vs put on

Chinese 穿 can map to different English structures depending on whether we mean state or action.

她穿蓝色外套。 → She wears / is wearing a blue coat.
穿上外套。 → Put on your coat.

Translate the event, not only the Chinese verb.

52. Listening: singular or plural? | 听单数还是复数

this shirt / these shirts
that shoe / those shoes
it is / they are

Plural endings and demonstratives help you track quantity.

53. Pronunciation: clothes | clothes 的发音

clothes can be difficult because several consonant sounds cluster together. Listen to natural models and aim for intelligibility. Do not add unnecessary extra syllables.

54. Pronunciation: colour | colour / color

British spelling: colour. American spelling: color. The meaning is the same.

This course often uses British spelling because of Singapore educational context, but learners should recognise both.

55. Reading practice A: choosing a jacket | 阅读 A

Mei needs a light jacket. She tries on a black one and a blue one. The black jacket is too large. The blue jacket fits well, but the sleeves are a little long. She asks, “Do you have this in a smaller size?” The shop assistant brings a smaller blue jacket. It fits well, and Mei likes the colour.

What does Mei need?
Which colours does she try?
What is wrong with the black jacket?
What is wrong with the first blue jacket?
What does she ask for?
Which jacket does she prefer?

56. Reading practice B: identifying a person | 阅读 B

David is meeting Anna at a busy café. Anna says, “I’m wearing a green dress and a black jacket. I have a red bag.” David sees several people. One woman is wearing green but has no jacket. Another woman is wearing a green dress, a black jacket and carrying a red bag. David knows the second woman is Anna.

What is Anna wearing?
What colour is her bag?
Why is the first woman probably not Anna?
Which woman is Anna?

57. Reading practice C: weather choice | 阅读 C

The morning is cool, but the afternoon will be warm. Lin wears a light sweater in the morning and carries a T-shirt in his bag. He does not take a heavy coat because he does not need one. He wears comfortable shoes because he will walk a lot.

What is the morning like?
What does Lin wear first?
Why doesn’t he take a heavy coat?
Why does he wear comfortable shoes?

58. Writing practice: describe today’s clothes | 写今天的穿着

Write four sentences:

top
bottom
shoes
one colour or accessory

Example: I’m wearing a white shirt. I’m wearing black trousers. My shoes are brown. I have a blue bag.

59. Writing practice: shopping problem | 写试衣问题

Use:

This is too ______.
Do you have a ______ size?
Do you have this in ______?
Can I try it on?

Create one realistic mini-dialogue.

60. Speaking practice: choose one | 选择一个

Put three fictional clothing options in front of the learner. Ask:

Which one do you like?
Which colour do you prefer?
Which one is cheaper? — preview for Lesson 016
Which one fits better?

61. Error clinic | 常见错误诊所

Common error	Better English	What broke?
This trousers is black. ✗	These trousers are black. ✓	plural clothing noun
a trousers ✗	a pair of trousers ✓	pair expression
She is wear a coat. ✗	She is wearing a coat. / She wears a coat. ✓	verb form
I wear on my shoes. ✗	I put on my shoes. ✓	state vs action
It too big. ✗	It is too big. ✓	be missing
Do you have bigger? △	Do you have a larger size? ✓	noun phrase completeness
What color it is? ✗	What colour is it? ✓	question order

62. First weak link diagnosis | 第一个卡点诊断

I know clothing nouns but mix this/these → number system.
I know colour words but omit be → sentence frame.
I say wear when I mean put on → state/action distinction.
I cannot count trousers/shoes → pair language.
I know size words but cannot request another size → shopping frame.
I can describe clothes but not fit → tight/loose/long/short/fits.
I read correctly but cannot understand clothing speech → plural and contraction listening.

63. Retrieval lab | 提取练习

蓝色衬衫。 → ______
这条裤子太长。 → ______
这些鞋太小。 → ______
我穿着黑色外套。 → ______
这个有蓝色的吗？ → ______
有大一点的吗？ → ______
我可以试穿吗？ → ______
试衣间在哪里？ → ______
我更喜欢蓝色的。 → ______
一双鞋。 → ______

Suggested answers: a blue shirt; These trousers are too long; These shoes are too small; I’m wearing a black coat; Do you have this in blue?; Do you have a larger size?; Can I try this on?; Where is the changing room?; I prefer the blue one; a pair of shoes.

64. Ten-minute daily practice | 每天十分钟

2 min	clothing nouns	衣服词
2 min	colours	颜色
2 min	this/these + pair nouns	单复数
2 min	fit/size requests	尺码
2 min	one changing-room role-play	试衣口语

65. Seven-day training cycle | 七天训练

Day 1	tops and outerwear	上装外套
Day 2	trousers/jeans/shoes	复数衣物
Day 3	colours and patterns	颜色图案
Day 4	wear/put on/take off	动作区别
Day 5	size and fit	尺码合身
Day 6	try-on requests	试穿
Day 7	one-minute clothing-shopping task	综合任务

66. Self-test: 30 questions | 30 题自测

Translate: 蓝色衬衫。
Translate: 黑色鞋子。
Translate: 一条裤子。
Translate: 一双鞋。
Translate: 这些牛仔裤是新的。
Ask: 这是什么颜色？
Ask: 这些鞋是什么颜色？
Translate: 我穿着白衬衫。
Explain wear vs put on.
Translate: 脱下外套。
Translate: 太大。
Translate: 太小。
Translate: 太紧。
Translate: 太松。
Translate: 太长。
Translate: 这件很合身。
Ask: 我可以试穿吗？
Ask: 试衣间在哪里？
Ask: 这个有黑色的吗？
Ask: 有小一点的吗？
Translate: 我更喜欢蓝色的。
Correct: This trousers is black.
Correct: She is wear a coat.
Correct: I wear on my shoes.
Correct: It too big.
Correct: What color it is?
Give one striped-clothing phrase.
Give one material phrase.
Describe one person’s clothes in three sentences.
Make one shopping request for size and colour.

Answer key | 答案

1 a blue shirt; 2 black shoes; 3 a pair of trousers; 4 a pair of shoes; 5 These jeans are new; 6 What colour is this?; 7 What colour are these shoes?; 8 I’m wearing a white shirt; 9 wear = state/habit, put on = action; 10 Take off your coat; 11 too big; 12 too small; 13 too tight; 14 too loose; 15 too long; 16 It fits well; 17 Can I try this on?; 18 Where is the changing room?; 19 Do you have this in black?; 20 Do you have a smaller size?; 21 I prefer the blue one; 22 These trousers are black; 23 She is wearing a coat / She wears a coat; 24 I put on my shoes; 25 It is too big; 26 What colour is it?; 27–30 answers vary.

67. For parents and teachers | 给家长和老师

Use real garments, labels and size tags. Clothing creates excellent concrete grammar because the learner can point, compare, try, count and describe.

For Mandarin speakers, spend time on plural clothing nouns and pair expressions. “A trousers” is not repaired by more vocabulary; it needs a different English noun-count pattern.

Keep fashion judgment separate from language correction. The goal is to say “too large”, “fits well”, “I prefer blue” and “Can I try it on?” clearly, not to rank people’s bodies or style.

Use changing-room role-play before full shopping role-play. This isolates fit, colour and size before adding money and payment vocabulary.

68. Final real-world challenge | 最终真实任务

Name fifteen clothing items.
Use twelve basic colours.
Describe what someone is wearing.
Use this/that/these/those correctly.
Count trousers and shoes with pair language.
Describe size and fit.
Ask for another colour.
Ask for another size.
Ask to try something on.
Choose between two items and explain your preference.

If you can do this, clothing vocabulary has become a working selection and shopping system.

Next: Lesson No.015 | 下一课

Next, move from what people wear to where people live: rooms, furniture, objects, there is/are, location language, household routines and describing a home.

Lesson No.015 · Home and Rooms · 家与房间

Reference floor: British Council A1 Elementary · British Council A1–A2 Vocabulary · Cambridge English Vocabulary in Use: Elementary.

Small Group Tutorials

How to Learn Basic English (Chinese Edition) | Lesson No.014 | Clothes and Colours | 衣服与颜色