to the shops/shopping

[ratóncolorao]

Good Afternoon,

Would you mind telling me the difference in meaning of these two following sentences?:

My mom has gone shopping.

My mom has gone to the shops.

Thank you for you help.

[5jj]

Would you mind telling me the difference in meaning of these two following sentences?:

My mom has gone shopping.

My mom has gone to the shops.

In practical terms, there is normally no difference in meaning.

[emsr2d2]

In order to go shopping, one doesn't need to go to more than one shop.

If you say "My mum has gone to the shops" then she is probably visiting more than one shop.
If you say "My mum has gone shopping" she might simply have gone to one supermarket (for example).