Starfish, with anywhere from five to eight arms, have a strong regenerative ability, and if one arm is lost it quickly replaces it, sometimes by the animal overcompensating and growing an extra one or two.
(A) one arm is lost it quickly replaces it, sometimes by the animal overcompensating and
(B) one arm is lost it is quickly replaced, with the animal sometimes overcompensating and
(C) they lose one arm they quickly replace it, sometimes by the animal overcompensating,
(D) they lose one arm they are quickly replaced, with the animal sometimes overcompensating,
(E) they lose one arm it is quickly replaced, sometimes with the animal overcompensating,
The plural verb- “have” indicates that the sentence takes starfish as a plural noun. ( Starfish can be used as singular or plural noun).
(A) one arm is lost it quickly replaces it, sometimes by the animal overcompensating and
it refers to “starfish” but “Starfish” is plural in the sentence. Eliminate
(B) one arm is lost it is quickly replaced, with the animal sometimes overcompensating and
“it” refers to the arm. SVA is maintained.
(C) they lose one arm they quickly replace it, sometimes by the animal overcompensating,
sometimes modifies overcompensating and growing. It should be placed next to overcompensating and growing. The conjunction “and” is missing in option C to connect overcompensating and growing.
(D) they lose one arm they are quickly replaced, with the animal sometimes overcompensating,
they are quickly replaced- “they” cannot be used to refer to “arm”. It cannot refer to starfish as starfish are not replaced.
(E) they lose one arm it is quickly replaced, sometimes with the animal overcompensating,
The conjunction “and” should be used to connect overcompensating and growing. A comma wouldn’t suffice.
sometimes modifies overcompensating and growing. It should be placed next to overcompensating and growing.