Abstract
The same, consisting of two words (or of clinic-plus-word), functions as a single grammatical item. Basically, it belongs to the determiner slot in phrase structure (together with articles, demonstratives and possessors). Like demonstratives, it may function as a substitution anaphor. But the same also shares some properties with adjectives — it can make up a complete copula complement, it may be the first element of a reduced relative clause, it may be followed by a preposition plus NP, and it has limited function as an adverb.
References
Dixon, R. M. W. 2003 "Demonstratives: a cross-linguistic typology", Studies in Language 27: 61-112.
Dixon, R. M. W. 2005 A semantic approach to English grammar. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Huddleston, Rodney 2002 "13. Comparative constructions", in: Rodney Huddleston - Geoffrey K. Pullum, 1097-1170.
Huddleston, Rodney - Geoffrey K. Pullum 2002 The Cambridge grammar of the English language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Simpson, J. A. - E. S. C. Weiner 1989 The Oxford English dictionary. (2nd edition.) Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Sinclair, John (founder editor-in-chief) 2001 Collins Cobuild English dictionary for advanced learners. Glasgow: HarperCollins.