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I was trying to describe a list of objects from a more generic point of view to a more specific one. While at the generic level I feel quite sure, using for example.

みなりのポケットの中には、ボールペンを二本あります。
There are two pens in the dress' pocket.

When trying to be more specific describing those pens I feel like I'm missing something (probably grammar). I would say something like:

一本は赤いです、一方は青いです。
One is red and the other is blue.

Is that correct/natural? Are there other (better) ways to express the same concept?

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みなりのポケットの中には、ボールペンを二本あります。
There are two pens in the dress' pocket.

[身]{み}なり refers to how you are dressed, your appearance, etc. Use ドレス for dress as in long dress or wedding dress, 服 or 洋服 for general clothes. を is used to indicate an object; use the subject particle が since the ボールペン is the subject of あります. あります would be fine but 入っています would be more natural. I would go with:

ドレス/[服]{ふく}のポケットには、ボールペンが二本[入]{はい}っています。

一本は赤いです、一方は青いです。
One is red and the other is blue.

Your translation makes sense but to be grammatically correct, you would say

一本は赤で、もう一本は青です。
or 一本は赤色で、もう一本は青色です。

「赤で」「青です」「赤色で」「青色です」 are like saying "(pens) of red/blue colour", rather than describing how the pens look.

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  • Thank you! Just for clarity, with 入っています do you describe the fact that the pocket contains the pens? So should I use it every time I want to describe the content of something?
    – mandrake
    Apr 24, 2015 at 8:13
  • I am not sure it's "every time" but yes you basically use 入っています to say "something is in a pocket, box, bag, etc." "someone is in a club", "some ingredient is in food, drink" etc.
    – chocolate ♦
    Apr 24, 2015 at 9:09

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