Hi,

I think Clive told me something to the effect that you need to make a full sentence in order for me to make a proper construction. Yes, the idea was to look at the long sentence in order to see how to make the short one correctly.

Did I do these right?

My birthday is the same as Jill's (is) OK

The date for the meeting is the same as last month's (date). OK

The spoons I used are the same as the ones used when I was eating dinner the day before OK, but long.

The spoons I used at dinner are the same as (the spoons used by Jill) Jill's (at dinner). OK

I have the same book as (the book) Jane /or Jane's??? (has)

The words in parentheses are those ones I used to construct full sentences but those do not seem be right. The above are OK.

Best wishes again, Clive

Hi again,

As for these answers of yours:

The spoons I used at dinner are the same as (the spoons used by Jill) Jill's (at dinner). OK

I have the same book as (the book) Jane /or Jane's??? (has) Here, the sentence is equating 'I' to 'Jane'. Consider that 'I' and 'Jane' are the subjects of the two clauses.

Are you saying no. 1 can use both 'Jill' and 'Jill's'? No. The spoons I used at dinner are the same as  Jill's (spoons). The sentence is equating spoons to spoons. 'Spoons are the subject in both parts of the statement.

The spoons I used at dinner are the same as (the spoons used) by Jill (at dinner) -- See 'are the same as by Jill' is not good. No. You are omitting too many words to make the meaning clear. You could say The spoons I used at dinner are the same as those used by Jill.

As to no. 2, which is correct?

I have the same book as (the book) Jane (has) The sentence is equating 'I' to 'Jane'. They are both subjects. Thus, I have the same book as Jane.

I have the same book as Jane's -- Although I couldn't construct a full sentence, I feel this is how people very often speak in everyday situations. Perhaps sometimes, but people do not always speak carefully. Do you?

Best wishes, Clive