Which sentence demonstrates proper subject-verb agreement with 'students' and 'study'?

Which sentence demonstrates proper subject-verb agreement with 'students' and 'study'?

• A. When students study, they focus on exams.
• B. When students study, they focuses on exams.
• C. When student studies, they focus on exams.
• D. When student studies, they focuses on exams.

Answer: (A)

The main concept is subject-verb agreement with a plural subject in present tense. Here, the subject “students” is plural, so the verb in that clause must be the base form “study,” and the pronoun referring to that subject should be plural as well, taking the verb “focus.” That combination gives: When students study, they focus on exams. The other sentences mix number incorrectly—using a singular subject with a plural verb or a plural pronoun with a singular verb—so they don’t keep the agreement.

The main concept is subject-verb agreement with a plural subject in present tense. Here, the subject “students” is plural, so the verb in that clause must be the base form “study,” and the pronoun referring to that subject should be plural as well, taking the verb “focus.” That combination gives: When students study, they focus on exams. The other sentences mix number incorrectly—using a singular subject with a plural verb or a plural pronoun with a singular verb—so they don’t keep the agreement.