This document provides 10 sentences with blanks to be filled in with either the singular or plural form of verbs. The sentences test whether verbs should agree with singular or plural subjects. It also provides two quotes to identify nouns and adjectives from and a prompt for an essay responding to a quote about problems in public schools. The document contains exercises to practice identifying verb agreement, nouns, adjectives, and writing an essay on an educational topic.

1. Read the sentences to
decide whether the
verbs should be
singular or plural.

2. 1. The price of these
jeans( is,
are)reasonable.

3. 2. The books borrowed
from the library (is,are)
on my desk.

4. 3. The boy who won the
two medals (is,are) a
friend of mine.

5. 4. Bread and butter
(is,are) our daily food.

6. 5. The famous singer and
composer (has, have)
arrived.

7. 6. Collecting match-boxes
(is,are) one of his
favourite pastimes.

8. 7. The quality of the
candies (is,are) poor.

9. 8. Neither his father nor his
mother ( play, plays)
mahjong.

10. 9. Neither parent (is,are)
fond of playing mahjong.

11. 10. None of my friends
(is,are) there.

12. Pick out the nouns in this quote
Heroes represent the best of
ourselves, respecting that we are
human beings. A hero can be
anyone from Gandhi to your
classroom teacher, anyone who
can show courage when faced
with a problem. A hero is
someone who is willing to help
others in his or her best capacity.

13. Pick out the adjectives in this quote
During my eleven years as a New York City
public school teacher, I saw firsthand the
impact that poverty has on the classroom.
In low-income neighborhoods like Sunset
Park, where I taught, students as young
as five years old enter school affected by
the stresses often created by poverty:
domestic violence, drug abuse, gang
activity.

14. Essay. Elaborate the quote below
The problem with public school
is not overcrowding in the
classroom. The problem is not
teacher unions. The problem is
not underfunding or lack of
computer equipment. The
problem is your damn kids.