Question 1

Why do we use то же самое выражение here instead of одно и то же выражение?

Accepted Answer

While both translate to "the same expression", тот же самый is the standard choice when directly modifying a noun to mean "that very same [noun]". Один и тот же can also modify nouns, but it is more heavily used to emphasize the absolute identical nature of two things being compared, or it stands alone to mean "one and the same thing". Here, то же самое is the most natural fit.

Question 2

What case is то же самое выражение in, and how does the phrase decline?

Accepted Answer

It is in the accusative case, as it is the direct object of слышать. Because выражение is a neuter, inanimate noun, its accusative form is identical to the nominative. When this phrase declines, both the pronoun (то) and the adjective (самое) change to match the noun, but the particle же is completely frozen and never changes.

Question 3

Why is the imperfective verb слышать used here instead of the perfective услышать?

Accepted Answer

When you evaluate an action using impersonal words like странно (strange), трудно (hard), or приятно (pleasant), Russian prefers the imperfective infinitive. The sentence is expressing a general attitude toward the concept of "hearing this", rather than focusing on a single, successfully completed event.

Question 4

Why does the sentence use the preposition от before вас?

Accepted Answer

Verbs related to receiving information, sounds, or objects from a person—such as слышать (to hear), узнать (to find out), or получить (to receive)—require the preposition от plus the genitive case. This indicates the human source of what is being heard.

Странно слышать от вас то же самое выражение.

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