What are the main difference between these two? How do we use them correctly?
1. We were talking about exactly the same thing.
2. We were talking about the exact the same thing.
3 She is doing the exact same math question
4. She is doing exactly the same math question
5. That's exactly what I was talking about.
6 That's what exact I was talking about

When do we use exactly and exact? Can someone explain these two to me in details, please?What's the difference between exactly the same thing and the exact same thing?

Question

What are the main difference between these two? How do we use them correctly?
1. We were talking about exactly the same thing.
2. We were talking about the exact the same thing.
3 She is doing the exact same math question
4. She is doing exactly the same math question
5. That's exactly what I was talking about.
6 That's what exact I was talking about

When do we use exactly and exact? Can someone explain these two to me in details, please?What's the difference between exactly the same thing and the exact same thing?

Answer

#2 and #6 are both wrong.
We were talking about the exact same thing.
I was talking about that exact thing.

Answer

Hi Jack, here is a great blog which explains how to use both (when you can use them in sentence structure) https://blog.talaera.com/2018/01/10/exact-vs-exactly

The main difference is the grammatical use of the word and where it goes in the sentence - exact is an adjective whereas exactly is an adverb (sidenote: exact can be a verb but the meaning is to demand and obtain something from someone). In the example you have written, the meanings of the sentences are the same.

Exact = precise
Exactly = used to express the accuracy of information (e.g. exactly the same shirt means that it is the same shirt from the same store) and can also be used by itself to express agreement or to confirm

Careful - sentence 6 is not grammatically correct, You can read more about it in the blog but basically "exact" in that sentence is an adjective (and therefore link to a noun) for example: That is the exact same thing that I was talking about

Answer

It can be a rather complex question and answer. There are many components to consider. “Exactly” can be use as an exclamation and a form of agreement. Whereas “exact”: is an Adjective. As the exact position of the club behind the ball. 
If exact is modifying a noun, it’s place after the article such as “the”: as in the exact same shirt. Exactly comes after the verb as in “I am wearing exactly the same shirt”, phew! I think also if you insert “the” in front of exact, it works but not if you use Exactly. Yeah, I know, it’s confusing isn’t it? ...BTW I have trouble trying to figure out when to use “them” and “those” ...it’s a myth to assume that  native speakers of their own language can grasp all of the nuances of grammar and structure associated with their own language. We are not alone. Good luck.

Answer

6.)  That's what exact I was talking about ( incorrect usage )

The exact - noun
Exactly - adverb

depending where it is placed in the sentence.

Answer

you have used them correctly in every sentence except no 6
6 That's what exact I was talking about, you cannot say this.
exact and exactly mean about the same, but the first is an adjective and the second an adverb

Answers · 10

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