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He and I share a/the same book.

The book hasn't been mentioned before. So which one is used with "same", "a" or "the"?

Because the book hasn't been mentioned before, I want to use "a".

Because I remember that "same" is always used with "the" in front, I have to use "the".

ЯegDwight
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Tim
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  • It's more like once you thought of that book both of you share together, you've already been specific about which book you've thought of. And, because it's specific, you will want to use "the". – Damkerng T. Dec 19 '13 at 07:39
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    Can "a" be used in front of "same"? – Tim Dec 19 '13 at 07:40
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    I think it's possible but in a very rare occasion. (I couldn't think of a good example now, and a same-sex marriage is not the case.) For ESL learners, I would say you should practically always use: the same. – Damkerng T. Dec 19 '13 at 07:44
  • I mean "a/the same something". "a same-sex marriage" doesn't fall into that case. – Tim Dec 19 '13 at 07:49
  • Here is a valid usage of a same I found in COCA: Well, the survey is actually one that we conduct with Gallup, so partnering with Gallup we end up every month surveying over 100 -- over 1,000 investors, and it varies from month to month, so it's not a same* segment every month.* – Damkerng T. Dec 19 '13 at 07:51
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    @Damkerng: Even if it is in COCA, I don't believe that usage is grammatical. It should be the same. – Peter Shor Dec 19 '13 at 13:39

2 Answers2

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If you want to specify that you share a book, the two ways to put it are:

He and I share a book.

or the other way is:

He and I share the same book.

"the" is a definite article. "same" too is definite. Hence the two are used together.

Stark07
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Grammatically I think the adjective "same " always has "the " or "this""that"

etc.before it:

We all ordered the same thing.

He's driving back to Fairview that same night .

mmb
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