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Why here is plural “We went to the movies last night.”



The Next CEO of Stack OverflowClauses wrong usagesWhy is “police” singular here?Distinction between singular “like” and plural “likes”Singular vs. plural in “interest rates and investment”Why is “letter” not plural in “two letter words”?Plural/singular in the following sentences?The best part of the movie 'is/are' the quirks - Singular or Plural?The majority: plural or singularSingular vs. plural in the object of this sentenceDefinite article with “is” or “are”?










1















This sentence "We went to the movies last night." I found at URL: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/movies
Why does plural "movies", why does not singular "movie"?










share|improve this question




























    1















    This sentence "We went to the movies last night." I found at URL: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/movies
    Why does plural "movies", why does not singular "movie"?










    share|improve this question


























      1












      1








      1


      1






      This sentence "We went to the movies last night." I found at URL: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/movies
      Why does plural "movies", why does not singular "movie"?










      share|improve this question
















      This sentence "We went to the movies last night." I found at URL: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/movies
      Why does plural "movies", why does not singular "movie"?







      american-english singular-vs-plural






      share|improve this question















      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited 1 hour ago









      Jasper

      19.2k43771




      19.2k43771










      asked 1 hour ago









      b2okb2ok

      227211




      227211




















          3 Answers
          3






          active

          oldest

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          4














          In the very early days, movies were very short (about 10-15 minutes), so people watched several movies in a row. Even when feature films were developed, there was typically a newsreel, a short and the feature.



          Also, they were originally called 'moving pictures', which quite naturally became 'movies'. 'A movie' came slightly later. (I think people referred to 'a film' before they referred to 'a movie'.)






          share|improve this answer
































            3














            Because, as that definition explained, "movies" in that context refers to the movie theater, which typically has several showings for a movie. If you want to refer to the showing you specifically attended, you would say "we went to a movie last night."






            share|improve this answer






























              2















              Do you want to go to the movies tonight?



              Do you want to go to the cinema tonight?




              Both the movies (AmE) or the cinema (BrE) refer to a place where you can watch a movie (AmE) or a film (BrE). It is usually a movie theater (AmE) or a cinema (BrE).




              Would you like to go and see a film tonight?



              I thought we might get something to eat and then go to see a movie.







              share|improve this answer

























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                3 Answers
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                3 Answers
                3






                active

                oldest

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                active

                oldest

                votes






                active

                oldest

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                4














                In the very early days, movies were very short (about 10-15 minutes), so people watched several movies in a row. Even when feature films were developed, there was typically a newsreel, a short and the feature.



                Also, they were originally called 'moving pictures', which quite naturally became 'movies'. 'A movie' came slightly later. (I think people referred to 'a film' before they referred to 'a movie'.)






                share|improve this answer





























                  4














                  In the very early days, movies were very short (about 10-15 minutes), so people watched several movies in a row. Even when feature films were developed, there was typically a newsreel, a short and the feature.



                  Also, they were originally called 'moving pictures', which quite naturally became 'movies'. 'A movie' came slightly later. (I think people referred to 'a film' before they referred to 'a movie'.)






                  share|improve this answer



























                    4












                    4








                    4







                    In the very early days, movies were very short (about 10-15 minutes), so people watched several movies in a row. Even when feature films were developed, there was typically a newsreel, a short and the feature.



                    Also, they were originally called 'moving pictures', which quite naturally became 'movies'. 'A movie' came slightly later. (I think people referred to 'a film' before they referred to 'a movie'.)






                    share|improve this answer















                    In the very early days, movies were very short (about 10-15 minutes), so people watched several movies in a row. Even when feature films were developed, there was typically a newsreel, a short and the feature.



                    Also, they were originally called 'moving pictures', which quite naturally became 'movies'. 'A movie' came slightly later. (I think people referred to 'a film' before they referred to 'a movie'.)







                    share|improve this answer














                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer








                    edited 52 mins ago

























                    answered 1 hour ago









                    SydneySydney

                    4,8402815




                    4,8402815























                        3














                        Because, as that definition explained, "movies" in that context refers to the movie theater, which typically has several showings for a movie. If you want to refer to the showing you specifically attended, you would say "we went to a movie last night."






                        share|improve this answer



























                          3














                          Because, as that definition explained, "movies" in that context refers to the movie theater, which typically has several showings for a movie. If you want to refer to the showing you specifically attended, you would say "we went to a movie last night."






                          share|improve this answer

























                            3












                            3








                            3







                            Because, as that definition explained, "movies" in that context refers to the movie theater, which typically has several showings for a movie. If you want to refer to the showing you specifically attended, you would say "we went to a movie last night."






                            share|improve this answer













                            Because, as that definition explained, "movies" in that context refers to the movie theater, which typically has several showings for a movie. If you want to refer to the showing you specifically attended, you would say "we went to a movie last night."







                            share|improve this answer












                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer










                            answered 1 hour ago









                            pboss3010pboss3010

                            75414




                            75414





















                                2















                                Do you want to go to the movies tonight?



                                Do you want to go to the cinema tonight?




                                Both the movies (AmE) or the cinema (BrE) refer to a place where you can watch a movie (AmE) or a film (BrE). It is usually a movie theater (AmE) or a cinema (BrE).




                                Would you like to go and see a film tonight?



                                I thought we might get something to eat and then go to see a movie.







                                share|improve this answer





























                                  2















                                  Do you want to go to the movies tonight?



                                  Do you want to go to the cinema tonight?




                                  Both the movies (AmE) or the cinema (BrE) refer to a place where you can watch a movie (AmE) or a film (BrE). It is usually a movie theater (AmE) or a cinema (BrE).




                                  Would you like to go and see a film tonight?



                                  I thought we might get something to eat and then go to see a movie.







                                  share|improve this answer



























                                    2












                                    2








                                    2








                                    Do you want to go to the movies tonight?



                                    Do you want to go to the cinema tonight?




                                    Both the movies (AmE) or the cinema (BrE) refer to a place where you can watch a movie (AmE) or a film (BrE). It is usually a movie theater (AmE) or a cinema (BrE).




                                    Would you like to go and see a film tonight?



                                    I thought we might get something to eat and then go to see a movie.







                                    share|improve this answer
















                                    Do you want to go to the movies tonight?



                                    Do you want to go to the cinema tonight?




                                    Both the movies (AmE) or the cinema (BrE) refer to a place where you can watch a movie (AmE) or a film (BrE). It is usually a movie theater (AmE) or a cinema (BrE).




                                    Would you like to go and see a film tonight?



                                    I thought we might get something to eat and then go to see a movie.








                                    share|improve this answer














                                    share|improve this answer



                                    share|improve this answer








                                    edited 1 hour ago

























                                    answered 1 hour ago









                                    Andrew TobilkoAndrew Tobilko

                                    2,014521




                                    2,014521



























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