Not using #em#a#/em# or #em#an#/em# with noncount nouns

Do not use a (or an) with noncount nouns. Also do not use numbers or words such as several or many because they must be used with plural nouns, and noncount nouns do not have plural forms.

Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: Dr. Snyder gave us an information about the Peace Corps. Revised sentence: Dr. Snyder gave us information about the Peace Corps. Explanation: The article “an” has been deleted before the noun “information.”

Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: Do you have many money with you? Revised sentence: Do you have money with you? Explanation: The adjective “many” has been deleted before the noun “money.”

Quantifiers for approximate amounts

You can use quantifiers to suggest approximate amounts or nonspecific quantities of nouncount nouns.

The following are some common quantifiers:

a little

enough

much

a lot of

less

plenty of

any

more

some

Commonly used noncount nouns

Exercise: Using articles 1

Exercise: Using articles 2

Exercise: Using articles 3

Exercise: Articles and types of nouns

noncount noun A noun that represents something that cannot be counted; it does not have a plural form.

quantifier A modifier that expresses approximate amounts or specific quantities: some, enough, five.