Практическая грамматика

The meat was good and White Fang was hungry. (London)


§ 7. When an indefinite part of the substance is meant, some is used.

We took some bread and cheese with us, and got some goat's milk up there on the pasture. (Voynich)

Nouns of material denoting different sorts of material are countable and the articles are used according to the general use of articles with class nouns.

A pleasure to give a good wine to a young woman who looked so well. (Galsworthy)

This use is very rare.

ABSTRACT NOUNS

§ 8. When abstract nouns are used in a general sense, no article is used.

While there is life there is hope.

§ 9. When abstract nouns are modified by a particularizing attribute or when the situation makes the idea definite modifies abstract nouns, they are used with the definite article.

He (Cowperwood) was the courage and force of his father, the spirit and opportunity of his brothers, the hope of his children, the dignity and significance of the Cowperwood name. (Dreiser)

Last night I heard Carmen and enjoyed the music.

Note 1. It should be borne in mind that abstract nouns modified by an attri­bute in pre-position are used without articles unless particularizing attributes modifies them: English literature, Russian art, Italian music etc.

Note 2. The abstract noun weather is never used with the indefinite article.
What fine weather!
It is burning weather. (Ch. Bronte)

When the noun weather is used in a general sense, the definite article is used.

There are people who say that the weather can influence people's mood. (Bennett).

§10. Abstract nouns can be used with the indefinite article; in this case the abstract now denotes a certain kind (оттенок) of a quality, feeling, state, etc. The noun nearly always has a descriptive attribute.

How clever you are, Mr. Hopper. You have a cleverness quite of your own. (Wilde)

In her eyes there was an eagerness, which could hardly be seen without delight. (Austen)

§ 11. The indefinite article is used with the nouns period, po­pulation, distance, height, salary etc. followed by of +numeral + noun.

Simpson was out of the city for a period of ten days. (Dreiser)

USE OF ARTICLES WITH PROPER NOUNS