English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
THE GRAMMAR OF APPEARANCE
The lady had changed into her ~casual~ when I saw her (nonstandard).
The lady had changed into her casuals when I saw her (standard).
She deals in beach ~wears~ (nonstandard).
She deals in beach wear (standard). You use wear to refer to clothes that are suitable for a certain time or place.
I was just putting on my ~cloth~ when she came in (nonstandard).
I was just putting on my clothes when she called me (standard). Things such as dresses and trousers that you wear to cover, protect, or decorate your body are called clothes while the unsewn material is cloth.
GAB
