Getting Clothes Altered

Alterations [ˌɔːltəˈreɪʃənz] (noun) – Changes made to clothing to adjust the fit or fix a problem.
Example: “I need some alterations on my dress before the wedding.”

Tailor [ˈteɪlər] (noun) – A person who alters, repairs, or makes clothes.
Example: “The tailor shortened my pants perfectly.”

Shorten [ˈʃɔːrtn] (verb) – To make something shorter.
Example: “Can you shorten these pants by 3 cm?”

Zipper [ˈzɪpər] (noun) – A fastening device with teeth that interlock to close clothing.
Example: “The zipper on my dress is broken; I need it replaced.”

Measure [ˈmeʒər] (verb) – To determine the size or length of something.
Example: “The tailor measured my pants before shortening them.”

Fix [fɪks] (verb) – To repair something that is broken or not working properly.
Example: “Can you fix the loose button on my jacket?”

Replace [rɪˈpleɪs] (verb) – To remove something and put another in its place.
Example: “I need to replace the zipper on my dress.”

Cost [kɔːst] (noun) – The price or amount of money needed to pay for something.
Example: “How much does it cost to shorten these pants?”

Pick up [pɪk ʌp] (phrasal verb) – To collect something that has been repaired or ordered.
Example: “When can I pick up my clothes?”

Rush fee [rʌʃ fiː] (noun) – An extra charge for faster service.
Example: “There is a $5 rush fee for next-day service.”

Loose [luːs] (adjective) – Not firmly attached or fitting properly.
Example: “The button on my coat is loose; it needs to be sewn back on.”

Sew [soʊ] (verb) – To stitch fabric together using a needle and thread.
Example: “Can you sew this button back onto my jacket?”

Grammar Tips 

1. How to Ask for Alterations Politely

When requesting a service, we often use “Can you…?” or “Could you…?” to sound polite.

✅ Example:
❌ Make my pants shorter 3 cm. (too direct)
✅ Can you shorten my pants by 3 cm? (polite request)

✅ Example:
❌ Fix my dress zipper. (too direct)
✅ Could you fix the zipper on my dress? (polite and natural)

2. Using “By” for Measurements

When talking about how much something should be adjusted, we use “by” + amount.

✅ Example:
❌ Cut my pants 3 cm.
✅ Can you shorten my pants by 3 cm?

✅ Example:
❌ Make this dress smaller 2 sizes.
✅ Can you take in this dress by two sizes?

3. Asking About Cost and Time

When asking about the price, we use:
✅ How much does it cost to [action]?
✅ What’s the price for [service]?

✅ Example:
❌ How much for fix my dress? (incorrect grammar)
✅ How much does it cost to fix my dress? (correct)

For time, we use:
✅ When can I pick it up?
✅ How long will it take?

✅ Example:
❌ When I can take my clothes? (incorrect word order)
✅ When can I pick up my clothes? (correct)

4. Using “Need to” for Necessity

When talking about something that must be done, use “need to” + verb.

✅ Example:
❌ I must replace the zipper. (too strong)
✅ I need to replace the zipper. (natural)

✅ Example:
❌ I have to shorten my pants. (okay, but “need to” sounds softer)
✅ I need to shorten my pants by 3 cm.