My student Rebecca (not the real name), who is currently studying at a Swiss German university in Bumi Serpong Damai, complained about prepositions. Sometimes the use of the prepositions is not according to the theory. Sometimes she finds that the meaning of certain prepositions are similar, therefore she thinks, that she can just use the prepositions or exchange them.
Because of her questions I just realized that it is true. In Indonesian "ueber" and "an...vorbei" can mean melewati, lewat or melalui. Before I had no problem with prepositions, because I thought the Germans would understand me. However Rebecca must do the grammar test. Due to a small grammar mistake she would fail in the test and she wouldn't achieve the Zertifikat Deutsch (German Certificate).
Further I asked my friends in Germany (I consider all friends). Mrs Engelhardt in Karlsruhe and Ulli in Hamburg have helped me. Following is the explanation.
Examples:
A. Ich fahre ueber den Alexanderplatz.
B. Ich fahre an der Universitaet vorbei.
Like Rebecca's question: can we exchange the prepositions since they have the same meaning in Indonesian? The sentences become:
A. Ich fahre am Alexanderplatz vorbei.
B. Ich fahre ueber die Universitaet.
The answer:
A. Ich fahre am Alexanderplatz vorbei.
People would understand you from the whole context. But the meaning is now: that you don't drive or ride across the Platz, but at the margin of the Platz. (in this case without stop)
B. Ich fahre ueber die Universitaet.
It is not a good sentence. The best: Ich fahre an der Universitaet vorbei (like above). Or: Ich fahre zur Universitaet. (In this case people will stop for a moment)
Conclusion: we cannot easily exchange both preposition "ueber" and "vorbei". People can say: "wir sind am Alexanderplatz vorbeigefahren" which means that: we didn't notice that it was Alexanderplatz, it took fast. "Ich fahre ueber die Universitaet" you cannot say that.
What do the following sentences mean?
A. Ich fahre ueber den Alexanderplatz.
1. I drive across the Alexanderplatz; without stop
2. It can have several meanings: You drive or ride from A to B, the way directs via the Alexanderplatz. However you drive or ride further to the destination B. But you can also include a stop in at the Alexanderplatz to shop or to go to a cafe.
B. Ich fahre an der Universitaet vorbei.
1. You don't stop at the university. But in the daily conversation all depend on the situation, in which the sentence is said. You can drive or ride via the university and stop in at that university, e.g. to bring a book for someone.
2. You don't stop at the university and don't get out from your car, but you drive further. However there is a German speciality: Ich gehe bei dir vorbei - which means: I stop by to you quickly. Or: Ich gehe bei der Bank vorbei - which means the bank is on my way from A to B, I stop in into the bank and take money.
Hopefully the explanation is understandable to the Indonesian students.
Back to text 16: He Lies!
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