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Consider

  1. in the same year or
  2. in the same sense,

both of which contain the article. Suppose also, that the context needs dative. I want to use a x-selbe word to express this in German.

Question: where to put the article?

(a) The article is absorbed by the x-selbe word, being this demselben
(b) The article is contracted with the prepostion in
(c) The article is contracted with the preposition, and x=dem just because it should be dative

1a. In demselben Jahr or 1b. Im denselben Jahr or 1c. Im demselben Jahr
2a. In demselben Sinn(e) or 2b. Im denselben Sinn(e) or 2c. Im demselben Sinn(e)

I mean, following the rules it should be (c). But then it seems funny

Im dem...

like, even though dem- just refers to the declension in the table, I've not aware of having seen two -m endings together.

1
  • Neither ;) – "Dergleiche" does not exist. "Dergleichen", though, but that's something different. "Derselbe" is also a different. What you're looking for is "in dem gleichen/selben Jahr" or "im gleichen/selben Jahr"
    – Em1
    Aug 24, 2015 at 12:51

1 Answer 1

3

The usual expression is im selben Jahr, i.e. the article contained in derselbe is absorbed by the preposition in the normal way. The same is true for other relevant prepositions (am selben Ort, zur selben Zeit) and for the accusative (ins selbe Zimmer).

It is possible to keep preposition and article separated for emphasis or rhythm (in demselben Jahr); this is in no way specific to derselbe, though (in dem Jahr).

In short, derselbe behaves exactly like der gleiche. The difference is just the spelling.

3
  • Should I use in demselben Jahr for demostrative dem (instead of just a dull article?)
    – c.p.
    Aug 24, 2015 at 13:14
  • 2
    @c.p. Yes: X wurde in demselben Jahr geboren, in dem Y verstarb.
    – chirlu
    Aug 24, 2015 at 13:17
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    @c.p. in demselben jahr would put extra emphasis on the fact that it is really that selfsame year!
    – Burki
    Aug 24, 2015 at 14:34

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