Went to movies or the movies yesterday?

Question

Hi. Please help. What/which should be the correct phrase for the answer part below, "to movies" or "to the movies"? Should we include the definite article "the" before the word "movies"? I think we can say, "I went to stores to buy some fresh vegetables yesterday," and don't need to put the definite article "the" before the word "stores" to tell what I did yesterday, but it seems the inclusion of "the" is better, or perhaps correct, for the answer below.

So, basially, as for the answer below, I feel the article should be placed before the word "movies" but confused as to the reason. Help.

A: Did you go to a comedy show yesterday?

B: No, I didn't. I went to the movies (to movies - correct?) yesterday.

Cool Breeze · Accepted Answer

The correct phrase is to the movies/pictures/cinema.

CB

Anonymous · Answer

Hi. Thank you. Would you say the definite article "the" is needed before the word "stores"?

I went to the stores to buy some fresh vegetables yesterday.

Cool Breeze · Answer

Strictly grammatically speaking, all of these are correct:

I went to the store[ s]

I went to a store

I went to stores

It all depends on how many stores you went to and whether you went to the store or stores that you usually go to. The last one is rather odd and I cannot think of a situation in which to use it naturally.

CB

Went to movies or the movies yesterday?

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