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could you tell me the word class category of the word 'same' in the following sentence? And what would be your explanation / reason for your classification?
Would you say that "same" is an adjective or does it rather function as a (pro)noun (or something else)? In the former case, how could we explain that the definitive article 'the' precedes 'same' (usually it's not possible unless the adjective is followed by a noun)
"All the same", often "all the same to X" is a fixed phrase, perhaps even an idiom. As such, it is pointless to analyze the individual words of the phrase for grammar or syntax.
"All the same" means "equally acceptable" or just "acceptable", with an implication of asking if there is an objection.
Thus
I'd rather stay here, if it's all the same to you.
means:
I prefer to stay here, unless you object.
or
I prefer to stay here, if you don't care what my choice is.
(The 2nd of these sticks closer to the literal meaning pg the phrase, but the first is by far the more common usage.)
