29d. When not to use a or an
Do not use a or an with noncount nouns. Also do not use numbers or words such as several or many; they must be used with plural nouns, and noncount nouns do not have plural forms. (See the chart on this page for lists of commonly used noncount nouns.)
You can use quantifiers such as enough, less, and some to suggest approximate amounts or nonspecific quantities of noncount nouns: a little salt, any homework, enough wood, less information, much pollution.
Commonly used noncount nouns
Food and drink
beef, bread, butter, candy, cereal, cheese, cream, meat, milk, pasta, rice, salt, sugar, water, wine
Nonfood substances
air, cement, coal, dirt, gasoline, gold, paper, petroleum, plastic, rain, silver, snow, soap, steel, wood, wool
Abstract nouns
advice, anger, beauty, confidence, courage, employment, fun, happiness, health, honesty, information, intelligence, knowledge, love, poverty, satisfaction, wealth
Other
biology (and other areas of study), clothing, equipment, furniture, homework, jewelry, luggage, machinery, mail, money, news, poetry, pollution, research, scenery, traffic, transportation, violence, weather, work
note: A few noncount nouns (such as love) can also be used as count nouns: He had two loves: music and archery.