[Grammar] Clause Verb Tense

[vpriest]

Sentence: The government provided the computers the students need.

Is the above sentence grammatically correct?
Shouldn't it be "have provided or provides" (under the condition that we keep the other parts of the sentence as is)?

Thank you!

 

[5jj]

If the providing took place in the past, provided is correct. Either needed or need is possible depending on whether the need was in the past or is on-going.

If the providing is on-going then provides/provide is correct. Group nouns can take either a singular in a plural verb in BrE.

 

[vpriest]

Just to double check, the original sentence with "provided the computers the students need" is fine, right?

Thank you!

 

[5jj]

It's possible in the right context.