SC - It is well known in the supermarket industry that

[mseeker]

It is well known in the supermarket industry that how items are placed on shelves and the frequency of inventory turnovers can be crucial to profits.
(A) the frequency of inventory turnovers can be
(B) the frequency of inventory turnovers is often
(C) the frequency with which the inventory turns over is often
(D) how frequently is the inventory turned over are
(E) how frequently the inventory turns over can be

I dont understand the logic which OG provides to justify the correct answer. Please help me with my dilemma why E and why not D?

[aditya8062]

i somehow don't feel good about the answer

E says: how frequently the inventory turns over can be ---->seems to suggest that "inventory can turn over by itself, an interpretation which is really illogical !!

[manyaabroadtpr]

option D fixes the parallel construction error how X and how Y is tested in the sentence. But it introduces a new error. It changes the word order subject/verb of clause 1, which says how items are placed, (items: subject; are placed: verb in clause 2, which reads is the inventory turned over...the auxiliary verb is is placed before the subject inventory. Also the word often is redundant.
Option E is parallel and concise. So it is the best answer.

[aditya8062]

It changes the word order subject/verb of clause 1, which says how items are placed, (items: subject; are placed: verb in clause 2, which reads is the inventory turned over...the auxiliary verb is is placed before the subject inventory.

indecently there is no such rule for parallelism.

[GMATGuruNY]

It is well known in the supermarket indeustry that how items are placed on shelves and the frequency of inventory turnovers can be crucial to profits.
a. the frequency of inventory turnovers can be
b. the frequency of inventory turnovers is often
c. the frequency with which the inventory turns over is often
d. how frequently is the inventory turned over are often
e. how frequently the inventory turns over can be

In A, B and C, how items are placed is not parallel with the frequency. Eliminate A, B and C.

In D, the structure how + to be + subject implies a question: how frequently IS the inventory turned over? To make a statement, the structure needs to be how + subject + verb, as in answer choice E: how frequently the inventory TURNS OVER. Eliminate D.

The correct answer is E.

[aditya8062]

To make a statement, the structure needs to be how + subject + verb

thanks GURU
but does that mean that following is incorrect
how is he doing?
and THAT following is correct: how he is doing?
GURU can u please elaborate a little more on this: To make a statement, the structure needs to be how + subject + verb

also please tell me is E not giving a notion that "inventory" can turn over by itself,

[GMATGuruNY]

To make a statement, the structure needs to be how + subject + verb

thanks GURU
but does that mean that following is incorrect
how is he doing?
and THAT following is correct: how he is doing?
GURU can u please elaborate a little more on this: To make a statement, the structure needs to be how + subject + verb

also please tell me is E not giving a notion that "inventory" can turn over by itself,

Just the opposite.
how + to be + subject serves to express a QUESTION:
How IS HE doing?
how + subject + to be serves to express a STATEMENT:
I wonder how HE IS doing.
The following are INCORRECT:
How he is doing?
I wonder how is he doing.

In this context, to turn over means to be sold and restocked.

[aditya8062]

Just the opposite.
how + to be + subject serves to express a QUESTION:
How IS HE doing?
how + subject + to be serves to express a STATEMENT:
I wonder how HE IS doing.
The following are INCORRECT:
How he is doing?
I wonder how is he doing.

this is gem of an explanation .many thanks
in fact i feel that this is the real reason as why E is the answer and not D because in D it is now appearing that someone was asking a question !! please tell me that parallelism was not an issue here (as i believe so)

thanks and regards

[GMATGuruNY]

Just the opposite.
how + to be + subject serves to express a QUESTION:
How IS HE doing?
how + subject + to be serves to express a STATEMENT:
I wonder how HE IS doing.
The following are INCORRECT:
How he is doing?
I wonder how is he doing.

this is gem of an explanation .many thanks
in fact i feel that this is the real reason as why E is the answer and not D because in D it is now appearing that someone was asking a question !! please tell me that parallelism was not an issue here (as i believe so)

thanks and regards

D: How items are placed on shelves and how frequently is the inventory turned over are crucial.
Errors:
how...is the inventory -- HOW + TO BE + SUBJECT -- cannot serve to express a statement.
A conjunction such as and cannot serve to connect a statement structure (how ITEMS ARE placed) to an interrogative structure (how IS THE INVENTORY turned over).
Since to turn over means to be sold and restocked, there is no need for the passive voice (is turned over).
While the original sentence discusses a POSSIBILITY (aspects that CAN BE crucial), D discusses a CERTAINTY (aspects that ARE crucial) -- an unnecessary change in meaning.

[mseeker]

Thanks Mitch! This is an exceptionallty helpful concept.

Much appreciated!

[ILKHOMJON]

Hi Gmatguruny,
Could you please check my reasoning below?

A is incorrect in that how items are placed on shelves and the frequency of inventory turnovers are not parallel because how items are placed on shelves is an adverb, whereas the frequency of inventory turnovers is a noun.

The parallelism would be correct if we said What items are placed on shelves and the frequency of inventory turnovers are crucial to profits.
BUT,
It would be wrong if we said how often items are placed on shelves and what kind of items are placed on shelves are crucial to profits. This is because, how often items are placed on shelves is adverb again, while what kind of items are placed on shelves is a noun.

I would appreciate if you could give feedback on my reasoning!