Tanto como

[Oldman]

My textbook says to use "tanto como" after a verb when making comparisons with equality with verbs:
"Tú estudias tanto como yo" === You study as much as I

I am wondering how the following 'answer' would be translated into Spanish:
Me: I see 11 girls playing. How many do you see?
Answer: I see as many as you.

Would it be "Veo tanto como tu" as the textbook suggests or would be "Veo tantas como tu

[Rusty]

It is as the textbook gives.

"Tanto como" is an adverbial locution. The two words together have a certain meaning. (Individually, the two words have a different meaning.)
Because this locution is an adverb, it doesn't vary in form (it doesn't match gender or number of the subject).

There is an adjective phrase which does vary, but the noun is included in between the two words. Veo tantas chicas como tú.

There is an 'Accents' drop-down menu above the box used for typing. You can insert the special characters used in Spanish from that menu.

[Oldman]

Thanks...that helps. by excluding the noun chicas in the answer,an I'm using 'tanto como' as an adverb and not dealing with adjective .

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Right.
Just keep in mind this: if you say "veo tantas como tú", you're explicitly talking about the girls you both are seeing. But when you say "veo tanto como tú", "tanto" is modifying the verb "ver", so you're actually talking about the quality of your eyesight, rather than about the people you're seeing.

[Oldman]

Well, in my example I'm not interested in the quality of my friend's eyesight, I want to know if he is seeing 11 girls.

Are you saying "veo tanto como tú" isn't asking if he sees 11 girls and that "veo tantas como tú" is an improperly worded question ?

[Rusty]

«Veo tantas (chicas) como tú» is properly worded (the noun may be omitted, if understood). This is not a question, but a response to a question. The question has never been translated. We are giving you the answer you petitioned, based on the information you provided above.

(Your new question (never translated) strays from the concept being taught in the textbook, where it was the verb that was being used for comparison.)

[Oldman]

yes, I meant statement not question.... so forgetting the textbook and my original post, if you and I were at a soccer match and we had that conversation,

Me: I see 11 girls playing. How many do you see?


Your proper response would be using tontas, with or without the noun ?

[Rusty]

Yes, tantas (not tontas), with or without the noun is a proper response.

Let's put it all together.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Originally Posted by Oldman

yes, I meant statement not question.... so forgetting the textbook and my original post, if you and I were at a soccer match and we had that conversation,

Me: I see 11 girls playing. How many do you see?

Your proper response would be using tantas, with or without the noun?

I agree with Rusty.
The context is of course important, but it doesn't change the nature of the words. "Tanto" as an adverb, is immediately related to the verb, so "veo tanto como tú" will make the listener think about eyesight quality, not about the people he/she is seeing in the field.
In that situation, they will know what you mean as soon as they reflect a couple of seconds on what you are saying, but stating "veo tantas como tú" will always be the best reply.