When to use a quantifier such as more or some

Use a quantifier such as some or more, not a or an, with a noncount noun to express an approximate amount.

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.

Choosing articles for common nouns

Use the

if the reader has enough information to identify the noun specifically count: Please turn on the lights. We’re going to the zoo tomorrow.
noncount: The food throughout Italy is excellent.

Use a or an

if the noun refers to one item and if the item is singular but not specific count: Bring a pencil to class. Charles wrote an essay about his first job.

note: Do not use a or an with plural or noncount nouns.

Use a quantifier (enough, many, some, etc.)

if the noun represents an unspecified amount of something count (plural): Amir showed us some photos of India. Many turtles return to the same nesting site each year.
if the amount is more than one but not all items in a category noncount: We didn’t get enough rain this summer.

note: Sometimes no article conveys an unspecified amount: Amir showed us photos of India.

Use no article

if the noun represents all items in a category count (plural): Students can attend the show for free.
if the noun represents a category in general noncount: Coal is a natural resource.

note: The is occasionally used when a singular count noun refers to all items in a class or a specific category: The bald eagle is no longer endangered in the United States.

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.