Мой брат думает то же, что и я.

My brother thinks the same as I do.

Breakdown of Мой брат думает то же, что и я.

• я: I
• мой: my
• и: and
• брат: the brother

Questions & Answers about Мой брат думает то же, что и я.

Why is it то же (two words) and not тоже (one word)?

То же and тоже mean different things, even though they sound the same.

• То же (two words) literally means that same (thing) / the same.
  
  • то = that (thing)
  • же = a particle reinforcing identity: the very same
    In this sentence it means the same (thing) that I think.
• Тоже (one word) means also / too / as well.

So Мой брат думает то же, что и я = My brother thinks the same (thing) as I (do).
If you used тоже, it would mean My brother also thinks… and the rest of the sentence would no longer make sense.

What does то же, что и я literally mean?

Broken down literally:

• то – that (thing)
• же – reinforces identity: that very, the same
• что – here: what / which
• и – and, but in this structure: as well, too, just like
• я – I

So literally: He thinks that same (thing), which I (do) as well.
A more natural English rendering: He thinks the same as I do or He thinks the same thing I do.