The use of articles with abstract uncountable nouns.

Abstract uncountable nouns do not take the indefinite article even if they are modified by a descriptive adjective: He believed firmly in true friendship and true love. He showed immense joy in speaking to the man.

       This group of uncountable nouns may be used with the indefinite article if modified by the adjectives certain and peculiar: There was a peculiar tension in his voice. He felt a certain curiosity in her question.

It is important to remember that the following nouns are never used with the indefinite article, not even with the words certain and peculiar: evidence, experience, progress, permission, weather, nature, nonsense, news, money, luck, work, advice, fun, health, information. Still, it should be noted that the word experience may be used with the indefinite article in the meaning “an event from life”. The same refers to the word work in the meaning “a work of art (literature)”, etc. The definite article can be used with the enlisted nouns if the situation requires it: The news he told me was bad. He was surprised at the luck he had.

       Some uncountable nouns tend to change their meaning and become countable, which is typical of them in predicative constructions and the construction what a... Compare: There was pity in his eyes. // What a pity you couldn’t come. I enjoy comfort. // It was a comfort to hear that. He looked at us with disappointment. // It is a disappointment for him to learn the truth.

       No article is used with such nouns as history, literature, poetry, architecture, medicine, law, science. Thus, it’s necessary to say: He knew much about Greek architecture. She enjoys modern art. Charles has never been interested in science.

       The words science and medicine can, however, be used with either the definite or the indefinite article in case the word science denotes “a scientific subject” and the word medicine denotes “a substance that you take to treat an illness”.

The use of articles with names of substances.

       Names of substances are generally used without any article even in case a noun denoting substance is modified by a descriptive adjective: It was a beautiful dress made of woo l. Don’t drink cold water. The cupboard was made of real wood. He ordered French wine. He avoids eating meat and chicken.

       This group of nouns can be used in the plural form or with the indefinite article if these nouns denote a kind of variety of substance or a portion of food or drink: They don’t sell good coffee s in the shop any longer. She ordered two juices and a cake.

The article with names of meals, times of the day and seasons.

       Names of meals are generally used without any article: I was asked to dinner in their house. At breakfast they discussed the news.

If names of meals are defined by a limiting attribute or preceded by the preposition during the definite article is used: We discussed the news during the dinner. The dinner she made was delicious.

       The indefinite article is used when names of meals are modified by a descriptive adjective: It was a really good dinner. He had a late breakfast that day.

       The nouns denoting times of the day are used without any article in predicative constructions, preceded by prepositions at, after, before, by, till, until, towards, past or modified by the adjectives early and late or the words tomorrow and yesterday: It was morning. He returned before dawn. It was late afternoon when got some news. Come tomorrow morning.

       In case the nouns denoting times of the day are preceded by the prepositions in, through, during the definite article is required: He slept during the day.

       The indefinite article is used with the nouns denoting times of the day if a noun of the group is modified by a descriptive adjective: It was a cold morning. Just imagine spending a rainy night in the open.

The names of seasons are generally used without any article though the definite article can also be found: (The) summer is very short in Britain.

       No article is used in predicative constructions or in case a noun of the group is modified by the adjective early or late: It was autumn when he finally made up his mind. I like early spring.

       The definite article is necessary if a noun denoting seasons is modified by a limiting attribute or preceded by the prepositions during, for, through.

       The indefinite article is required if a noun denoting seasons is modified by a descriptive attribute: Unfortunately it was a cold summer.