ellipsis

[navi tasan]

Can one use:
1-An injection will not hurt you as much as kicking that lady in the shin.
instead of:
1a-An injection will not hurt you as much as kicking that lady in the shin hurt her.

I don't like "1". To me, it seems to be saying that kicking that lady in the shin hurt you..

[5jj]

I agree, though in context the intended meaning is probably clear.

[navi tasan]

Thank you Fivejedjon,
How about:
2-An injection will not hurt as much as kicking that lady in the shin.

Does this necessarily mean"
2a-An injection will not hurt that lady as much as kicking her in the shin.

Is the object of "will not hurt" necessarily "that lady" or could it be someone else?

[5jj]

It's similar to your first example in that, once again, context will make it clear. If you take these words out of context, then they can be interpreted in more than one way.