same - similar

Same is almost always used with `the'.

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◊ 'the same'

If two things are the same, they are exactly alike.

Both categories may be present and both may look the same.

The distances aren't necessarily the same.

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◊ 'the same as'

You say that one thing is the same as another thing.

It is really just the same as any other police work.

24 Springburn Terrace was the same as its neighbours.

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Note that you do not use any preposition except `as' after the same in sentences like these.

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You can put a noun between the same and as. You can say, for example, `She works in the same office as her sister'.

It was the same colour as the wall.

They're not in the same position as the other universities.

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You can also use the same as to compare actions. For example, you can say `She did the same as her sister did', or just `She did the same as her sister'.

He did exactly the same as John did.

They've got to do their housekeeping the same as anybody else.

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◊ 'the same...that'

You can also use a `that'-clause after the same and a noun.

He had the same stare that the rest of the marines had.

After the news they heard the same voice that Rodin had heard in 1940.

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◊ modifiers used with 'the same'

You can use words like `exactly' and `nearly' in front of the same.

I had the impression that on the far side the view would be exactly the same.

This is practically the same as on the previous sheet.

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◊ 'similar'

If two people or things are similar, each one has some features which the other one has.

The two men were remarkably similar.

The letters are basically very similar.

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You say that one thing is similar to another thing.

It is similar to the rest of the field.

Do you run programmes similar to that overseas?

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You can use similar in front of a noun when you are comparing a person or thing to someone or something else that has just been mentioned.

Many of today's adults have had a similar experience.

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◊ modifiers used with 'similar'

You can use words like `rather' and `very' with similar.

His own background was rather similar to my own.

My problems are very similar to yours.

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