Russian grammar - Emphasis with the particle же

Emphasis with the particle же

The particle же is used to express a contradiction, surprise or to emphasise a fact.

In most cases, the particle 'же' emphasises not a particular word, but the whole phrase, and so there is a lot of freedom as to its location in a sentence.

But it can also mean 'the same' or 'again' when paired with тот, так, такой or variants thereof. In this case its position is fixed.

Examples:
	Я же не дурак! I am no fool. Emphasis of the fact.
	Ты же не говоришь по-русски! You (informal) really do not speak Russian. Emphasis of the fact’s importance.
	Я же не читаю газет! Nope! I do not read newspapers. Emphasis of the fact’s importance.
	Они же делают уроки! Yep! They are doing the homework now. Emphasis of the fact’s importance.
	Это тот же дом. It is the same house (again). тот же is a set expression meaning 'the same' or 'again'
	Олег бреется так же часто. Oleg shaves just as often. так же is a set expression here meaning 'just as'
	Этот музей такой же старый. This museum is just as old. такой же is a set expression here meaning 'just as'
	Эта ваза такая же высокая. This vase is just as tall. такая же is a set expression here meaning 'just as'
	Я читаю книги, Марина же смотрит фильмы. I read books, but as for Marina, she watches movies. Here же serves as a contrast marker, like 'as for'.
	Выставка закрывается сегодня же. It's today that the exhibition closes. Here же emphasises of the fact’s importance.
	Сегодня вы обещаете то же самое. Today you (formal) promise exactly the same. тот же is a set expression reiterating самое (the same).
	Я делаю это же сегодня. I do the same thing today again. Adding же changes the meaning from 'doing it' to 'doing the same thing again'.
	Опять же! Yet again! Emphasising repetition of the same thing.
	Они снова поют ту же песню. They are singing the same song (again). ту же is a set expression meaning 'the same' or 'again'