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People use the word 'same' in sentences like 'the same car' (where same is an adjective and will take adverbs) or 'I'd like the same!' (where same is a pronoun and will take adjectives).

The problem is that sometimes people use the word same as a pronoun in a context when they use it in front of a noun; where it can only be an adjective.

In its adjective form, it cannot take adjectives - only adverbs, like any adjective at that.

Examples (not the best ones, but I hope they make my point): 'The taxi you and I used on new year's eve was the exact same!' (pronoun) 'On new year's eve you and I used exactly the same taxi!' (adjective)

Conclusion: when used together with another noun, it's an adjective and must be garnished as such.

People use the word 'same' in sentences like 'the same car' (where same is an adjective and will take adverbs) or 'I'd like the same!' (where same is a pronoun and will take adjectives).

The problem is that sometimes people use the word same as a pronoun (by putting adjectives in front of it) when they use it in front of another noun. In front of another noun, though, it can only be an adjective and not a pronoun.

In its adjective form, it cannot take adjectives - only adverbs, like any adjective at that.

Examples (not the best ones, but I hope they make my point): 'The taxi you and I used on new year's eve was the exact same!' (pronoun) 'On new year's eve you and I used exactly the same taxi!' (adjective)

Conclusion: when used together with another noun, it's an adjective and must be garnished as such.

People confuse 'the same' with a noun, because of the 'the' in front of it. The problem is that 'the same' is actually a short version 'the same <thing>', with 'same' being (and remaining!) an adjective, even when <thing> is left out.

But alas, they consider it a noun and then prepend 'exact' in its adjective form to it, hence 'the exact same'. But this is wrong, because 'same' was never a noun to begin with.

Thus 'the exact same' is used by people who have no clue about the language, but rather use whatever sounds nice to them. People who do understand the rules only and properly use 'exactly the same', as they should.

edit: Since the word same can be used as a pronoun (which in turn can be used as a noun), my answer only applies to the case where a real noun is used together with the word same (e.g. the exact same car), in which case 'same' can only be seen as an adjective. Thanks to Andy for pointing this out.

People use the word 'same' in sentences like 'the same car' (where same is an adjective and will take adverbs) or 'I'd like the same!' (where same is a pronoun and will take adjectives).

The problem is that sometimes people use the word same as a pronoun in a context when they use it in front of a noun; where it can only be an adjective.

In its adjective form, it cannot take adjectives - only adverbs, like any adjective at that.

Examples (not the best ones, but I hope they make my point): 'The taxi you and I used on new year's eve was the exact same!' (pronoun) 'On new year's eve you and I used exactly the same taxi!' (adjective)

Conclusion: when used together with another noun, it's an adjective and must be garnished as such.

People confuse 'the same' with a noun, because of the 'the' in front of it. The problem is that 'the same' is actually a short version 'the same <thing>', with 'same' being (and remaining!) an adjective, even when <thing> is left out.

But alas, they consider it a noun and then prepend 'exact' in its adjective form to it, hence 'the exact same'. But this is wrong, because 'same' was never a noun to begin with.

Thus 'the exact same' is used by people who have no clue about the language, but rather use whatever sounds nice to them. People who do understand the rules only and properly use 'exactly the same', as they should.

People confuse 'the same' with a noun, because of the 'the' in front of it. The problem is that 'the same' is actually a short version 'the same <thing>', with 'same' being (and remaining!) an adjective, even when <thing> is left out.

But alas, they consider it a noun and then prepend 'exact' in its adjective form to it, hence 'the exact same'. But this is wrong, because 'same' was never a noun to begin with.

Thus 'the exact same' is used by people who have no clue about the language, but rather use whatever sounds nice to them. People who do understand the rules only and properly use 'exactly the same', as they should.

edit: Since the word same can be used as a pronoun (which in turn can be used as a noun), my answer only applies to the case where a real noun is used together with the word same (e.g. the exact same car), in which case 'same' can only be seen as an adjective. Thanks to Andy for pointing this out.