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Let’s take another look at using articles, No article / zero article,…

- - - - a dog / an elephant / a unit / an hour / an excellent car / a red apple
      - This is when a / an is used:
        
        something is mentioned for the first time or is unknown to the speaker
        
        This is a dog. This is an elephant.
        
        I saw a dog in your yard. I saw an elephant at the zoo.
        
        you refer to one member or part of some larger group or quantity
        
        Here’s Becky – she is a friend of mine.
        
        you use some type of a unit in expressions of time, quantity or price
        
        I get paid once a month.
        
        Add half a cup of water.
        
        These shirts are a dollar a piece.
        
        talking about someone’s nationality, ethnicity or religion
        
        Trevor is a Canadian.
        
        John is an Inuit.
        
        Xavier became a Christian.
        
        Barb is a Republican.
        
        you refer to a species
        
        2 more items...
- - - - The boys had breakfast at seven.
      - They had a huge breakfast.
      - Don’t use any article with any place, building or facility when talking about the activity done in it
        
        Jenny goes to school in Sacramento.
        
        unless you are talking about the actual building.
        
        Rick takes Jenny to the school to play basketball on Friday evenings.
        
        No article when talking about means of transport
        
        by train, by plane, by air, on foot
        
        or with words that form a close unit
        
        They were announced husband and wife.
        
        The same applies to nouns that follow kind of, sort of, type of, class of, variety of, species of
        
        This kind of car is too small for your growing family.
        
        What sort of person is he?
        
        Which type of ring do you like better?
        
        Articles are not used with the names of illnesses or diseases.
        
        3 more items...
  - - - Lack of Plural Form: Uncountable nouns generally do not have a plural form. You don't say "sugars," "waters," or "knowledges." They are treated as singular.
        
        Correct: "I need some sugar."
        
        Incorrect: "I need some sugars."
      - Used with Quantifiers: Uncountable nouns are often used with quantifying expressions like "some," "a lot of," "a little," or "much.
      - Not Counted: As the name implies, uncountable nouns are not counted individually. You don't say "one furniture," but you might say "one piece of furniture."
    - - Lack of Plural Form: "Holiday" does not have a plural form in this context. You wouldn't say "holidays" here.
      - No Indefinite Article: "On holiday" is used without an indefinite article (a/an).
      - Used with Contextual Quantifiers: In this case, the idea of being "by herself" serves as a contextual quantifier, emphasizing a specific instance of the uncountable noun "holiday."
        
        contextual modifier or specifier
      - "by herself" can be considered contextual quantifier (more like contextual modifier or specifier), emphazising.