We didn’t enjoy the two miles’ walk to the lake

No article is used when the noun is modified by the nouns today, yesterday, tomorrow in the genitive case:

I haven’t read today’s newspaper yet.

- A noun with a preposition (a prepositional phrase) can be both a limiting and a descriptive attribute:

A smile of happiness lit her face. I don't know the man at the window.

The following prepositional phrases are used as descriptive attributes:

a) phrases denoting a container with its contents, e.g. a cup of tea;

b) phrases denoting certain quantity, e.g. a slice of meat;

c) phrases denoting composition, e.g. a crowd of people, a pair of gloves;

d) phrases denoting measure, e.g. a distance of two kilometres, an ounce of milk;

e) phrases denoting origin, e.g. a citizen of Russia;

f) phrases denoting characteristics of an object, e.g. a woman of unusual beauty;

g) phrases denoting age, e.g. a man of 30;

h) phrases denoting material a thing is made of, e.g. a ring of gold;

i) of-phrases with the double genitive, e.g. a friend of my sister's.

The of-phrase can be also used as a limiting attribute, e.g. the city of Moscow, the sound of the door.

ATTRIBUTES EXPRESSED BY INFINITIVES

They can be both limiting and descriptive attributes:

Ask him. He is the man to help you.

We have a task to solve.

ATTRIBUTES EXPRESSED BY ATTRIBUTIVE CLAUSES

If a noun is modified by a limiting attributive clause, the definite article is used:

We looked at the road that was stretching in front of us.

If a noun is modified by a descriptive attributive clause, the indefinite article is used:

We took a road that was leading south.

USE OF ARTICLES WITH UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS

USE OF ARTICLES WITH THE NOUNS OF MATERIAL

Nouns of material are used in singular but they do not take the indefinite article. They are usually used without any article and the absence of article has the nominating meaning:

Bread, butter and meat were already on the table.

Nouns modified by descriptive attributes are used without any article:

Children need fresh air.

The definite article is used when the noun refers to a definite quantity of substance:

Pass me the butter, please.

The meaning of the definite article is restricting. The restriction may be also expressed by the limiting attribute:

I don't like the food in this cafe.

These rules apply to some collective nouns denoting a group of objects, thought of as a whole, e.g. furniture, equipment, silverware, luggage, etc.:

They have just bought new furniture for their house.

The nouns of material can become countable; then the articles are used according to the general rules. In such cases they denote:

- A kind or a variety of substance, e.g.

She always drinks a white wine at dinner.

- A portion of food or drink, e.g.

She used to have a tea and a cake for lunch.

USE OF ARTICLES WITH ABSTRACT NOUNS

Abstract nouns can be countable and uncountable. Uncountable abstract nouns are used only in singular and take no article when used in general sense:

While there is love, there is life.

Abstract nouns may be modified by attributes. If a descriptive attribute narrows the notion expressed by the abstract noun, no article is used. Descriptive attributes can be expressed by the following groups of adjectives:

- Adjectives denoting nationality, e.g. English literature, Flemish art:

I love French poetry.

- Adjectives denoting social characteristics, e.g. racial prejudice, feudal law, social tension, etc.:

There is no place for racial prejudice in a democratic society.

- Adjectives denoting periods of time, e.g. modern art, Victorian age:

I admire modern art.

Remember the exceptions: The Middle Ages, (the) golden age of.

- Adjectives denoting authenticity, e.g. true love, false friendship, real power:

It was false alarm.