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English Vocabulary: How to Use the Verbs “Wear” and “Dress”

February 6, 2012 by Melanie

How to Use the English Verbs "Wear" and "Dress" | English Teacher Melanie

What are you wearing?

wear = have clothes on your body

You wear clothes.

This is the most common verb used to talk about clothes.

What are you wearing today?

I’m going to wear my new shoes to school tomorrow!

He wore a tie yesterday.

I haven’t worn this dress in ages [=in a long time]!

 

  • Similar to wear, you can also have clothes on or have on clothes.

What is she wearing? She has a red sweater on.

Have you seen Ben today? He has on a new suit!

 

 

To dress

= to put clothes on yourself or someone else

  • After you dress yourself, you are wearing clothes.

It’s cold outside so dress warmly! [= put on warm clothing]

I always dress to impress!

She likes to dress her children in stylish clothing.

 

  • Dressed as an adjective. It means ‘wearing clothes.’

She is dressed in a vintage Givenchy gown.

We are dressed for success!

She is always so well-dressed.

I’m not dressed for this kind of weather.

 

  • Get dressed = put clothes on (yourself); this is more common and less formal than dress.

Aren’t you dressed yet? Hurry up and get dressed!

I didn’t get dressed until after lunch!

In the morning I wake up, shower, get dressed, and then eat breakfast.

 

Filed Under: Blog, Vocabulary Tagged With: fashion, shopping, verbs

Comments

  1. Sílvio B Passos says

    August 28, 2012 at 10:09 pm

    Hi, Melanie

    Tranks for this helpful tip! That’s a good way to improve my skills.

    Bye
    Sílvio
    (from Brazil)

  2. Arzu says

    March 27, 2013 at 7:58 am

    Hi,Melanie
    Thank you so much!…
    From Azerbaijan..

  3. andy says

    October 14, 2013 at 9:45 pm

    Just an amazing teacher thanks

  4. Phuoc says

    October 16, 2013 at 5:49 am

    Thank you very much Melanie for a very useful issue!

  5. Miguel Angel says

    July 19, 2017 at 11:03 pm

    Hi, Melanie

    Today en my English class, We are studying, how to use de auxiliar “Do” , and the teacher ask us to give some examples, using “Do” in questions. My example was: ” What do you like to wear for the party?”, and the teacher told me that my question was incorrect because the correct for this question is “dress” instead of wear. So , please help me..! Thank you.

    • Melanie says

      July 20, 2017 at 8:54 pm

      You are correct, Miguel!

      Your sentence should be:
      “What do you want to wear to the party?” (a specific party)

      -or-

      “What do you like to wear to parties?” (in general)

      Wear is the correct verb, because you are talking about the clothes that you will have on your body when you arrive at the party.

      Good luck!

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