[Grammar] Mountains VS. A mountain

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sky3120

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We usually say, "I like to go to the mountains." But I do not know why people do not say, "go to the mountain" like "go to the beach" or "go to the mountains" is an idiom like "go to the movies" But as far as I know, there is a meaning difference between a mountain and mountains. So what do you think?

Thank you so much as usual in advance.
 
5jj

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You can go to the mountain if you and the person you are speaking to know which particular mountain you are referring to.

Normally, however, people go to mountainous area, rather than to one particular mountain, hence 'to the mountains'
 
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sky3120 said:
We usually say, "I like to go to the mountains." But I do not know why people do not say, "go to the mountain" like "go to the beach" or "go to the mountains" is an idiom like "go to the movies" But as far as I know, there is a meaning difference between a mountain and mountains. So what do you think?

Thank you so much as usual in advance.
Click to expand...

It is possible to say "I like going to the mountain" if there is one particular mountain you like going to. However, as most mountains are in ranges of peaks it is far more usual to say "I like going to the mountains" to say that you like visiting mountainous regions.
 
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Thank you!! And then why do not people say "go to the beaches"?
 
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emsr2d2

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sky3120 said:
Thank you!! And then why do not people say "go to the beaches"?
Click to expand...

Because you usually just go to one beach and stay there for the day.
 
bhaisahab

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Aha...I need to understand people's habits and common sense as well:) Thank you great people!!
 
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