as...as

[LisaL409]

In GMAT SC, is it correct to say: "They are as competent as their counterparts?" Adding "are", will "They are as competent as their counterparts are" sound redundant? If both choices show up, which choice to choose?

[RonPurewal]

In GMAT SC, is it correct to say: "They are as competent as their counterparts?" Adding "are", will "They are as competent as their counterparts are" sound redundant? If both choices show up, which choice to choose?

both are fine.

if you see both, then one of two things is happening:

1/
there's a deciding factor somewhere else.
(e.g., if this is the end of the underline, and the following words are a modifier describing the 'counterparts', then the version with "are" is bad—the modifier should be next to 'counterparts'.)

OR

2/
this split is there solely as a distraction, and there are much easier, more fundamental decisions elsewhere in the choices.

[LisaL409]

Thanks very much. I got it.

[RonPurewal]

you're welcome.

[aflaamM589]

Dear Ron,

Is are allowed to change position as in the following example?

They are as competent as their counterparts are
They are as competent as are their counterparts

thanks

[RonPurewal]

yes.

[aflaamM589]

Also Ron, as their is no ambiguity, we can drop the verb altogther, right?
i.e
They are as competent as their counterparts --> correct, right?

Thank you very much
Have a nice day

[RonPurewal]

yes, that would be fine.

this thread is now locked, since this question is obviously not random—clearly it is a piece of a problem from some source.
per the forum rules, these questions need to appear on threads that reproduce the ENTIRE original problem, exactly as originally provided (including all answer choices).