Le matin, je vais à l'église.
1.In the morning, I go to church.
L'apres-midi, je vais à la
plague.
2.In the afternoon, I go to the
beach.
Le soir, je vais au cinéma.
3. In the evening, I go to the movies.
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It is my understanding that we don't say 'go to the church' because it is a traditional or ritual habit. If the person goes to church every morning to pray or any other religious activity, we won't say every morning he/she goes to the church.
Now in the second and third sentences you find the article 'the'.
Even if the person goes to movies or beaches as a habit, we still use the article 'the'.
I find this awkward. Your thoughts are welcome.
[French behaves differently. You can't drop the article. L'église, la plague and au cinema is a must.]
à + le = au
à + les = aux
à + la = There is no contraction.
à + l' = There is no contraction.