Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 01:35 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 01:35
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
   1   2   3   
User avatar
wanghewei
User avatar
Joined: 06 Feb 2019
Last visit: 24 Jun 2022
Posts: 3
Given Kudos: 10
Posts: 3
Kudos: 0
As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on 01 Jun 2019, 21:25
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
hi expert
AjiteshArun , GMATNinja , MagooshExpert , GMATGuruNY , VeritasKarishma , ChiranjeevSingh , VeritasPrepBrian
As is the case with traditional pharmacies, prescriptions are the cornerstone of a successful on-line drugstore,since it is primarily prescriptions that attract the customers, who then also buy other health-related items.

what is the "SINCE IT" refer to?
User avatar
AjiteshArun
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 15 Jul 2015
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 5,949
Own Kudos:
5,080
 [2]
Given Kudos: 732
Location: India
GMAT Focus 1: 715 Q83 V90 DI83
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V169
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT Focus 1: 715 Q83 V90 DI83
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V169
Posts: 5,949
Kudos: 5,080
 [2]
As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on 02 Jun 2019, 18:37
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
wanghewei
hi expert
AjiteshArun , GMATNinja , MagooshExpert , GMATGuruNY , VeritasKarishma , ChiranjeevSingh , VeritasPrepBrian
As is the case with traditional pharmacies, prescriptions are the cornerstone of a successful on-line drugstore,since it is primarily prescriptions that attract the customers, who then also buy other health-related items.

what is the "SINCE IT" refer to?
Show more
Hi wanghewei,

This is a particular type of dummy it, used to change what would otherwise have been the subject of the sentence. Let's quickly take a look at why someone may use it:

1. The wording of the question confused me. ← This is fine, even though parents is plural.
2. It was the wording of the question that confused me. ← This is the same sentence, but the way it is constructed draws extra attention to the wording of the question. This could be used, for example, by a test taker to emphasize that it was the wording of the question (and nothing else) that confused him or her.

Don't worry too much about the difference between (1) and (2). The GMAT is extremely unlikely to test us on this. What is important is that we remember that there is no corresponding "plural" for this type of it, so we go with [it + singular verb] even when the noun on the other side is plural.

3. It was his parents who encouraged him to take the GMAT. ← This is fine.
4. They were his parents who encouraged him to take the GMAT. ← Trying to make the it in (3) plural somehow leads to an incorrect sentence.

5. ... it is primarily prescriptions that attract the customers... ← We ignore the fact that prescriptions is plural.

Remember not to apply this to other verbs:

6. It was his parents who were... ← The was is singular, but the were is plural (to go with parents).
7. It was his parents who was... ← This is incorrect.
User avatar
GMATNinja
User avatar
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
Joined: 13 Aug 2009
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 7,445
Own Kudos:
69,781
 [1]
Given Kudos: 2,060
Status: GMAT/GRE/LSAT tutors
Location: United States (CO)
GMAT 1: 780 Q51 V46
GMAT 2: 800 Q51 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V170
GRE 2: Q170 V170
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 2: 800 Q51 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V170
GRE 2: Q170 V170
Posts: 7,445
Kudos: 69,781
 [1]
As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on 22 Jun 2019, 14:45
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
wanghewei
hi expert
AjiteshArun , GMATNinja , MagooshExpert , GMATGuruNY , VeritasKarishma , ChiranjeevSingh , VeritasPrepBrian
As is the case with traditional pharmacies, prescriptions are the cornerstone of a successful on-line drugstore,since it is primarily prescriptions that attract the customers, who then also buy other health-related items.

what is the "SINCE IT" refer to?
Show more
As the always-wise AjiteshArun indicated, the "it" in this case is one of those strange dummy pronouns that don't have a referent. In constructions such as "it is raining" or "it is wrong to laugh at small children when they put legos in their noses," the "it" seems to imply a general state of affairs and doesn't refer to another noun in the sentence.

Two things I want to emphasize in this situation: 1) these constructions are rare on the GMAT, so don't worry about them too much, and 2) when in doubt about a pronoun, look for other, more concrete issues to use as decision points. If there are four concrete errors, and the one remaining option contains a weird pronoun but no other identifiable problems, the latter will be the correct answer.

I hope that helps!
avatar
Hanzel101
avatar
Joined: 15 Jul 2016
Last visit: 23 Feb 2020
Posts: 72
Own Kudos:
92
 [1]
Given Kudos: 190
Location: India
Schools: Oxford "21 (A) Cambridge "21 (A$)
GMAT 1: 690 Q48 V36
Schools: Oxford "21 (A) Cambridge "21 (A$)
GMAT 1: 690 Q48 V36
Posts: 72
Kudos: 92
 [1]
As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on 20 Jul 2019, 22:44
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
egmat
Hi All,

As it is with traditional pharmacies, online drugstores rely on prescriptions to be successful, since it is primarily prescriptions that attract the customers, who then buy other health-related items.


On reading the sentence carefully, we know that this sentence presents a comparison. The intended comparison is between traditional pharmacies and online drugstores. The point of comparison is that just like traditional pharmacies, online drugstores also depend upon the success of prescriptions for the said reason.
Since there is a comparison in this sentence, we can use either “LIKE + Noun” or “AS + Clause”. Let’s run the POE.



POE

A) As it is with traditional pharmacies, online drugstores rely on prescriptions to be successful: Incorrect. Pronoun “it” is referring to the entire clause “online drugstores rely on prescriptions to be successful”. This is incorrect because a pronoun can only refer to a noun or a pronoun.

B) As with the case of traditional pharmacies, online drugstores rely on prescriptions to have success: Incorrect. Since “as” has been used for comparison in this choice, it must be followed by a clause. But “with the case of traditional pharmacies” is a prepositional phrase and not a clause.

C) As is the case with traditional pharmacies, prescriptions are the cornerstone of a successful online drugstore: Correct. “As” is followed by a clause. Also, this choice maintains the parallelism by using “is” and “are”. What is the case with traditional pharmacies? It is that prescriptions are the cornerstone for their success. Hence, the comparison is parallel here.

D) As traditional pharmacies, so online drugstores rely on prescriptions to be successful: Incorrect. “As” is not followed by a clause.

E) Like traditional pharmacies, the cornerstone of a successful online drugstore is prescriptions: Incorrect. This choice presents illogical comparison. Here “traditional pharmacies” have been compared to “the cornerstone”. Also, use of “so” is not correct.



1. In comparisons, “like” must be followed by a NOUN.
2. In comparisons, “as” must be followed by a CLAUSE.
3. Pronouns can only refer to nouns and other pronouns.
4. Comparison should always be logical.

Hope this helps. Thanks.
Shraddha
Show more


Hi egmat

I cannot seem to understand why you have rejected option B on the basis of prepositional phrase? As per the "Usage of As" module in your course, As + prepositional phrases can be used to present comparison. The catch is of "ellipsis".

Quoting you:

B) As with the case of traditional pharmacies, online drugstores rely on prescriptions to have success: Incorrect. Since “as” has been used for comparison in this choice, it must be followed by a clause. But “with the case of traditional pharmacies” is a prepositional phrase and not a clause.

After adding ellipsis - As it is with the case of traditional pharmacies....

Also, I thought "it" is the placeholder (dummy) "it". Why is "it" referring to a clause?

Thanks.
User avatar
TarunTilokani
User avatar
Joined: 07 Mar 2019
Last visit: 25 Jul 2020
Posts: 53
Own Kudos:
197
Given Kudos: 77
Location: India
Posts: 53
Kudos: 197
As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on 12 Nov 2019, 23:25
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Experts i have slight doubt GMATNinja VeritasKarishma egmat

It has 2 roles one as a pronoun and second as a placeholder

my doubt is why can't the pronoun act as a placeholder in option A?
User avatar
abhishekpasricha
User avatar
Joined: 07 Nov 2013
Last visit: 08 Jun 2021
Posts: 29
Own Kudos:
28
Given Kudos: 475
Location: India
Concentration: Marketing, General Management
Schools: Insead Sept19 Intake Ivey '20 LBS '21 Rotman '21 Schulich Jan 2019 Entry Kellogg 1YR '20
GPA: 3.77
WE:Consulting (Consulting)
Schools: Insead Sept19 Intake Ivey '20 LBS '21 Rotman '21 Schulich Jan 2019 Entry Kellogg 1YR '20
Posts: 29
Kudos: 28
As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on 14 Jun 2020, 01:38
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hanzel101
egmat
Hi All,

As it is with traditional pharmacies, online drugstores rely on prescriptions to be successful, since it is primarily prescriptions that attract the customers, who then buy other health-related items.


On reading the sentence carefully, we know that this sentence presents a comparison. The intended comparison is between traditional pharmacies and online drugstores. The point of comparison is that just like traditional pharmacies, online drugstores also depend upon the success of prescriptions for the said reason.
Since there is a comparison in this sentence, we can use either “LIKE + Noun” or “AS + Clause”. Let’s run the POE.



POE

A) As it is with traditional pharmacies, online drugstores rely on prescriptions to be successful: Incorrect. Pronoun “it” is referring to the entire clause “online drugstores rely on prescriptions to be successful”. This is incorrect because a pronoun can only refer to a noun or a pronoun.

B) As with the case of traditional pharmacies, online drugstores rely on prescriptions to have success: Incorrect. Since “as” has been used for comparison in this choice, it must be followed by a clause. But “with the case of traditional pharmacies” is a prepositional phrase and not a clause.

C) As is the case with traditional pharmacies, prescriptions are the cornerstone of a successful online drugstore: Correct. “As” is followed by a clause. Also, this choice maintains the parallelism by using “is” and “are”. What is the case with traditional pharmacies? It is that prescriptions are the cornerstone for their success. Hence, the comparison is parallel here.

D) As traditional pharmacies, so online drugstores rely on prescriptions to be successful: Incorrect. “As” is not followed by a clause.

E) Like traditional pharmacies, the cornerstone of a successful online drugstore is prescriptions: Incorrect. This choice presents illogical comparison. Here “traditional pharmacies” have been compared to “the cornerstone”. Also, use of “so” is not correct.



1. In comparisons, “like” must be followed by a NOUN.
2. In comparisons, “as” must be followed by a CLAUSE.
3. Pronouns can only refer to nouns and other pronouns.
4. Comparison should always be logical.

Hope this helps. Thanks.
Shraddha


Hi egmat

I cannot seem to understand why you have rejected option B on the basis of prepositional phrase? As per the "Usage of As" module in your course, As + prepositional phrases can be used to present comparison. The catch is of "ellipsis".

Quoting you:

B) As with the case of traditional pharmacies, online drugstores rely on prescriptions to have success: Incorrect. Since “as” has been used for comparison in this choice, it must be followed by a clause. But “with the case of traditional pharmacies” is a prepositional phrase and not a clause.

After adding ellipsis - As it is with the case of traditional pharmacies....

Also, I thought "it" is the placeholder (dummy) "it". Why is "it" referring to a clause?

Thanks.
Show more

I have the same query egmat GMATNinja daagh can you please share some details about this
User avatar
svasan05
User avatar
CrackVerbal Representative
Joined: 02 Mar 2019
Last visit: 24 Feb 2023
Posts: 269
Own Kudos:
302
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 269
Kudos: 302
As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on 18 Feb 2021, 12:13
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to be successful, since it is primarily prescriptions that attract the customers, who then also buy other health-related items.

(A) As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to be successful "It" (some quality of traditional pharmacies) is being incorrectly compared to "on-line drugstores". Eliminate.

(B) As with the case of traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to have success "As" is followed by a prepositional phrase and not a clause as is required, also being used to compare two nouns incorrectly. Eliminate.

(C) As is the case with traditional pharmacies, prescriptions are the cornerstone of a successful on-line drugstore Correct answer. Above errors are rectified and no new errors are introduced.

(D) As traditional pharmacies, so on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to be successful Same error as in (B). Eliminate.

(E) Like traditional pharmacies, the cornerstone of a successful on-line drugstore is prescriptions Incorrect comparison of "traditional pharmacies" and "cornerstone of...". Eliminate.

Hope this helps.
User avatar
mSKR
User avatar
Joined: 14 Aug 2019
Last visit: 10 Mar 2024
Posts: 1,290
Own Kudos:
938
Given Kudos: 381
Location: Hong Kong
Concentration: Strategy, Marketing
Schools: IE (A) IIML-IPMX '22 (A) HKUST '22
GMAT 1: 650 Q49 V29
GPA: 3.81
Schools: IE (A) IIML-IPMX '22 (A) HKUST '22
GMAT 1: 650 Q49 V29
Posts: 1,290
Kudos: 938
As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on 20 Feb 2021, 07:10
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to be successful, since it is primarily prescriptions that attract the customers, who then also buy other health-related items.

Hi @AndrewN AjiteshArun: Please check my analysis below for B, C and D. I tried this question several times in last 2 days. Still I am not able to reach at the right answer.

Quote:
(D) As traditional pharmacies, so on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to be successful, since
Show more
Question1: Can we reject it on basis that Since and So are duplicate in meaning together? Is my approach right?
Since XXX , Online drug xxx
Since XX , so Online xx – since and so duplication


Question2: I think I am missing something in my approach to handle B and C. I improved SC efficiency by changing the strategy to seek an option that can provide clear and concise meaning literally. This one I faltered . Here is my analysis:
Need your expertise opinions. :please:

Quote:
(B) As with the case of traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to have success
Show more
Adding description of case: what case?
As with case of traditional pharmacies to rely on prescriptions to have success, on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to have success
Meaning wise:
As traditional pharmacies rely on prescriptions to have success, on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to have success
Comparison wise:
traditional pharmacies rely vs on-line drugstores rely
I choose B.
Note: I didn't want to reject B only because it is prepositional phrase with AS,I don't think i can remember such rules for long. So i kept reasoning based on meaning wise.

Quote:
(C) As is the case with traditional pharmacies, prescriptions are the cornerstone of a successful on-line drugstore
Show more
As the case is with traditional pharmacies, something is similar with online drugstore
Case = prescriptions are the cornerstone
Reading with whole meaning wise:
As prescriptions are the cornerstone is with traditional pharmacies, prescriptions are the cornerstone of a successful on-line drugstore
Comparison wise:
Case vs prescriptions
But what I am looking for comparison :
traditional pharmacies rely vs on-line drugstores rely
Hence I rejected C

AndrewN AjiteshArun: Please suggest where did I falter in B and C based on literal meaning strategy

Thanks! :angel:
avatar
AndrewN
avatar
Volunteer Expert
Joined: 16 May 2019
Last visit: 29 Mar 2025
Posts: 3,502
Own Kudos:
7,511
 [1]
Given Kudos: 500
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 3,502
Kudos: 7,511
 [1]
As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on 20 Feb 2021, 08:04
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
mSKR
As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to be successful, since it is primarily prescriptions that attract the customers, who then also buy other health-related items.

Hi @AndrewN AjiteshArun: Please check my analysis below for B, C and D. I tried this question several times in last 2 days. Still I am not able to reach at the right answer.

Quote:
(D) As traditional pharmacies, so on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to be successful, since
Question1: Can we reject it on basis that Since and So are duplicate in meaning together? Is my approach right?
Since XXX , Online drug xxx
Since XX , so Online xx – since and so duplication


Question2: I think I am missing something in my approach to handle B and C. I improved SC efficiency by changing the strategy to seek an option that can provide clear and concise meaning literally. This one I faltered . Here is my analysis:
Need your expertise opinions. :please:

Quote:
(B) As with the case of traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to have success
Adding description of case: what case?
As with case of traditional pharmacies to rely on prescriptions to have success, on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to have success
Meaning wise:
As traditional pharmacies rely on prescriptions to have success, on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to have success
Comparison wise:
traditional pharmacies rely vs on-line drugstores rely
I choose B.
Note: I didn't want to reject B only because it is prepositional phrase with AS,I don't think i can remember such rules for long. So i kept reasoning based on meaning wise.

Quote:
(C) As is the case with traditional pharmacies, prescriptions are the cornerstone of a successful on-line drugstore
As the case is with traditional pharmacies, something is similar with online drugstore
Case = prescriptions are the cornerstone
Reading with whole meaning wise:
As prescriptions are the cornerstone is with traditional pharmacies, prescriptions are the cornerstone of a successful on-line drugstore
Comparison wise:
Case vs prescriptions
But what I am looking for comparison :
traditional pharmacies rely vs on-line drugstores rely
Hence I rejected C

AndrewN AjiteshArun: Please suggest where did I falter in B and C based on literal meaning strategy

Thanks! :angel:
Show more
Hello, mSKR. I am not sure I can answer your question to your satisfaction, based on the "literal meaning strategy" you wish for me to invoke. I did narrow this one down to (A) and (C) pretty quickly, but then I took a little extra time to qualify each answer choice, and I opted for (C). My take on the answers:

Quote:
As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to be successful, since it is primarily prescriptions that attract the customers, who then also buy other health-related items.

A. As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to be successful
Show more
I do not like the double placeholders at all in it (in the underlined portion) and it (right after the underlined portion). The sentence is difficult to follow. I also wonder about the phrase to be successful, which sounds as if the prescriptions themselves are supposed to generate success, rather than the stores that peddle them. That is, if you wrap up the phrase into the single-word adjective successful and place it ahead of the noun it modifies, are we talking about successful drugstores or successful prescriptions? I have two doubts here on the whole, enough for me to seek a safer alternative.

Quote:
B. As with the case of traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to have success
Show more
In general, with should warrant caution, as it is used in many reasonable-sounding answers that end up being wrong. Here, as with is improper usage in the idiomatic construct as is the case. To be honest, I eliminated this one right away. But I felt even better about my decision when I saw have at the end instead of be. You can enjoy success, or you can be successful, but to have success? That sounds off, particularly when we had a perfectly reasonable alternative in the original sentence. Finally, to have success repeats the dual meaning issue we encountered at the tail-end of the previous answer choice. We still cannot say for sure whether drugstores or prescriptions are meant to have success.

Quote:
C. As is the case with traditional pharmacies, prescriptions are the cornerstone of a successful on-line drugstore
Show more
Now the issues from before have been addressed. The proper idiom is used in the comparison, and successful has finally found a home. After the underlined portion, there is a special emphasis placed on prescriptions in the It is... prescriptions that construct. A simple since prescriptions attract would do, but it would not be as emphatic. Since the underlined portion identifies prescriptions as the cornerstone of pharmacies, the it is... that construct seems fitting. In short, I have no issues with this answer choice.

Quote:
D. As traditional pharmacies, so on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to be successful
Show more
This is an improper usage of an as X, so [too] Y comparison. Something else needs to be attached to the first part to draw a comparison using as. Otherwise, like would be used to compare a noun to another noun: Like traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores... The open-ended to be successful only serves to further weaken the viability of this option.

Quote:
E. Like traditional pharmacies, the cornerstone of a successful on-line drugstore is prescriptions
Show more
Right idea, wrong execution. In this type of noun-to-noun comparison, similar entities need to be compared—pharmacies and the cornerstone are not similar entities. If we want to compare cornerstones (in a manner of speaking), we can invoke the case, as seen in other options. This should be another straightforward elimination.

I hope that helps you in some way, even if I more or less explained my own approach. Thank you for thinking to ask me, and as always, good luck with your studies.

- Andrew
avatar
soondoobu
avatar
Joined: 21 Jul 2020
Last visit: 17 Aug 2022
Posts: 65
Own Kudos:
14
Given Kudos: 3
WE:Operations (Manufacturing)
Posts: 65
Kudos: 14
As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on 10 Sep 2021, 10:47
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I got this question right but wanted to verify if my reasoning for eliminating answer choices is correct. Can you please help? Appreciate the help!

MartyTargetTestPrep GMATNinja VeritasKarishma

As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to be successful, since it is primarily prescriptions that attract the customers, who then also buy other health-related items.

(A) As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to be successful "it" has no logical referent

(B) As with the case of traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to have success meaning issue - it is illogical to say that "drugstores rely on prescriptions to have success"

(C) As is the case with traditional pharmacies, prescriptions are the cornerstone of a successful on-line drugstore logically compares how traditional pharmacies and online drugstore rely on prescriptions

(D) As traditional pharmacies, so on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to be successful I think this is incorrect because it is a wrong use of the idiom as X so Y. we need something before "as traditional pharmacies" to make this logical.

(E) Like traditional pharmacies, the cornerstone of a successful on-line drugstore is prescriptions incorrect comparison between traditional pharmacies and cornerstone of a successful online drugstore
User avatar
GMATGuruNY
User avatar
Joined: 04 Aug 2010
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 1,344
Own Kudos:
3,796
Given Kudos: 9
Schools:Dartmouth College
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 1,344
Kudos: 3,796
As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on 10 Sep 2021, 14:01
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Quote:
(B) As with the case of traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to have success "As" is followed by a prepositional phrase and not a clause as is required.
Show more

Note:
as + PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE is acceptable if the intended comparison is crystal clear.

An OA in GMATPrep:
In Hungary, as in much of Eastern Europe, an overwhelming proportion of women work.
Here, the two green in-phrases are parallel and thus serve the SAME FUNCTION: each serves to modify the following clause in blue.
Implied comparison:
In Hungary an overwhelming proportion of women work, as in much of Eastern Europe an overwhelming proportion of women work.
Since the intended comparison is crystal clear, this usage of as + PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE is correct.

B: As with the case of traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions.
Here, the red portion contains a with-modifier, but not the blue portion does not.
As result, a reader can only guess what action in the red portion is performed with the case of traditional pharmacies.
Since the intended comparison is not crystal clear, eliminate B.
avatar
deepakbarchha1
avatar
Joined: 27 Jul 2015
Last visit: 02 Dec 2021
Posts: 27
Own Kudos:
5
Given Kudos: 20
Location: India
Posts: 27
Kudos: 5
As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on 12 Sep 2021, 00:44
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Antmavel
not so easy...i am so french, it's terrible @!!@
this language will never enter my head :beat

thanks for your lesson Master Christoph :read
Show more


- If it is allowed to ask here, can any one tell me the source of this question ? In other words, is this question from OG?

Thanks
avatar
AndrewN
avatar
Volunteer Expert
Joined: 16 May 2019
Last visit: 29 Mar 2025
Posts: 3,502
Own Kudos:
7,511
 [1]
Given Kudos: 500
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 3,502
Kudos: 7,511
 [1]
As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on 13 Sep 2021, 08:48
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
deepakbarchha1
Antmavel
not so easy...i am so french, it's terrible @!!@
this language will never enter my head :beat

thanks for your lesson Master Christoph :read


- If it is allowed to ask here, can any one tell me the source of this question ? In other words, is this question from OG?

Thanks
Show more
Hello, deepakbarchha1. According to the question tags, this a GMAT Prep question. So, while it may not have appeared in the OG, it does seem to be an official question. If you cannot see the question tags above the question itself, you may have hidden them by accident. (I know I did when I was still unfamiliar with the site layout.)

- Andrew
User avatar
KarishmaB
User avatar
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 16,267
Own Kudos:
76,986
 [1]
Given Kudos: 482
Location: Pune, India
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 16,267
Kudos: 76,986
 [1]
As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on 13 Sep 2021, 21:42
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
soondoobu

(D) As traditional pharmacies, so on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to be successful I think this is incorrect because it is a wrong use of the idiom as X so Y. we need something before "as traditional pharmacies" to make this logical.

Show more

As used here with the noun "traditional pharmacies" is not correct. We need a clause for it to make sense.
e.g. As you sow, so shall you reap.

Use of "like" is expected here.
Like traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely ...
User avatar
Namangupta1997
User avatar
Joined: 23 Oct 2020
Last visit: 05 Apr 2025
Posts: 145
Own Kudos:
8
Given Kudos: 63
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V38
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V38
Posts: 145
Kudos: 8
As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on 17 Apr 2022, 06:21
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi AndrewN KarishmaB

I eliminated option C as I initially thought that pharmacies are being wrongly compared to prescriptions. But having read the explanations and brainstorming a bit, I think because the sentence contains the words " As with the case..." , the comparison of prescriptions is not with pharmacies per se, but with something related to pharmacies. ( the supposed case that is mentioned). Is my understanding correct ?

Also, I see a lot of explanations saying that the pronoun "it" has no referent. I didn't even consider this split as "it" is being used a placeholder. Do we really need a clear referent of "it" ? I am not sure. Please confirm.
User avatar
ExpertsGlobal5
User avatar
Experts' Global Representative
Joined: 10 Jul 2017
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 5,195
Own Kudos:
4,762
Given Kudos: 43
Location: India
GMAT Date: 11-01-2019
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 5,195
Kudos: 4,762
As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on 17 Apr 2022, 06:35
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Namangupta1997
Hi AndrewN KarishmaB

I eliminated option C as I initially thought that pharmacies are being wrongly compared to prescriptions. But having read the explanations and brainstorming a bit, I think because the sentence contains the words " As with the case..." , the comparison of prescriptions is not with pharmacies per se, but with something related to pharmacies. ( the supposed case that is mentioned). Is my understanding correct ?

Also, I see a lot of explanations saying that the pronoun "it" has no referent. I didn't even consider this split as "it" is being used a placeholder. Do we really need a clear referent of "it" ? I am not sure. Please confirm.
Show more

Hello Namangupta1997,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your queries, you are correct; "it" is indeed a placeholder pronoun here, meaning it does not need to directly refer to a noun.

Further, Option C does not directly compare "traditional pharmacies" to "a successful on-line drugstore"; it uses the adverbial phrase "As is the case with traditional pharmacies" to draw a comparison between how prescriptions are the cornerstone of a successful on-line drugstore, and how the same is true for traditional pharmacies, or, in other words, to convey that prescriptions are the cornerstone of a successful on-line drugstore, and they are also the cornerstone for traditional pharmacies.

We hope this helps.
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
avatar
AndrewN
avatar
Volunteer Expert
Joined: 16 May 2019
Last visit: 29 Mar 2025
Posts: 3,502
Own Kudos:
7,511
 [1]
Given Kudos: 500
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 3,502
Kudos: 7,511
 [1]
As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on 17 Apr 2022, 12:38
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Namangupta1997
Hi AndrewN KarishmaB

I eliminated option C as I initially thought that pharmacies are being wrongly compared to prescriptions. But having read the explanations and brainstorming a bit, I think because the sentence contains the words " As with the case..." , the comparison of prescriptions is not with pharmacies per se, but with something related to pharmacies. ( the supposed case that is mentioned). Is my understanding correct ?

Also, I see a lot of explanations saying that the pronoun "it" has no referent. I didn't even consider this split as "it" is being used a placeholder. Do we really need a clear referent of "it" ? I am not sure. Please confirm.
Show more
Hello, Namangupta1997. Have you read my earlier post on this question? It touches on both of your queries. (I think you meant to say option B in the first part, since you mentioned with, but I am unsure.)

Also, GMATGuruNY has written a fine post on why with will not work in the sentence at hand.

Please let me know if you have further questions. Thank you for thinking to ask.

- Andrew
User avatar
KarishmaB
User avatar
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 16,267
Own Kudos:
76,986
 [2]
Given Kudos: 482
Location: Pune, India
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 16,267
Kudos: 76,986
 [2]
As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on 17 Apr 2022, 22:57
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Namangupta1997
Hi AndrewN KarishmaB

I eliminated option C as I initially thought that pharmacies are being wrongly compared to prescriptions. But having read the explanations and brainstorming a bit, I think because the sentence contains the words " As with the case..." , the comparison of prescriptions is not with pharmacies per se, but with something related to pharmacies. ( the supposed case that is mentioned). Is my understanding correct ?

Also, I see a lot of explanations saying that the pronoun "it" has no referent. I didn't even consider this split as "it" is being used a placeholder. Do we really need a clear referent of "it" ? I am not sure. Please confirm.
Show more

In (C), a similarity is being established. Similarity between the case with traditional pharmacy and the case with online drugstore. That both cases are the same.
What is the case? It is that both rely on prescriptions to be successful.

As is the case with TP, the same is the case of online drugstores. This comparison is done correctly by option (C).

"As with the case of TP" is wrong. It needs something like "As happened with the case of TP, so happened with the case of OD". Here, what happened with the two cases would be same, not the two cases...

Now consider (A).
'it' can be a placeholder for something about TPs.
As it is with traditional pharmacies, so it is with on-line drugstores...
They have some similar quality.

But what (A) says is:
As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores ...
We are comparing a quality of TPs with ODs. This is incorrect comparison.

Now consider this:
As it is with traditional pharmacies, prescriptions are the cornerstone of a successful on-line drugstore too...
Here, 'it' stands for 'prescriptions are the cornerstone of a successful traditional pharmacy' which is acceptable in spoken language but not so much in formal. GMAT prefers 'the case' instead of 'it'. The case can stand in for the situation.
User avatar
gmatimothy
User avatar
Joined: 18 Apr 2022
Last visit: 19 Dec 2022
Posts: 111
Own Kudos:
9
Given Kudos: 704
Location: United States
Posts: 111
Kudos: 9
As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on 11 Jun 2022, 20:00
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
qpoo
As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to be successful, since it is primarily prescriptions that attract the customers, who then also buy other health-related items.

"As" in comparison needs to be clause. That said, cross out (B), (D) and (E).

(A) lacks a clear noun for "it" - therefore, (C) is better.

(A) As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to be successful

(B) As with the case of traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to have success

(C) As is the case with traditional pharmacies, prescriptions are the cornerstone of a successful on-line drugstore

(D) As traditional pharmacies, so on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to be successful

(E) Like traditional pharmacies, the cornerstone of a successful on-line drugstore is prescriptions
Show more
User avatar
himanshu0123
User avatar
Joined: 27 Mar 2016
Last visit: 20 Mar 2023
Posts: 190
Own Kudos:
5
Given Kudos: 101
Posts: 190
Kudos: 5
As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on 22 Aug 2022, 00:43
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
in B] if i remove 'with', can we use 'as the case of'

we are comparing two cases where prescriptions are the cornerstone of success.

As the case of traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to have success
   1   2   3   
Moderators:
GMATNinja
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7445 posts
GMATNinjaTwo
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
234 posts
miag
188 posts