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Mehrdad
Why "an der Uni" and not "auf der Uni"? What is the reason?
We use auf for horizontal surfaces.
And auf for vertical ones.
University is on the ground and not on the wall.
Is really German a logical language?
May 23, 2020 8:51 AM
Answers · 8
4
Auf der Uni, to me, sounds quite wrong =} ... if someone told me they were "auf der Uni" I'd assume they're on top of the building.
https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=auf+der+Uni%2C+an+der+Uni%2C+in+der+Uni&year_start=1800&year_end=2008&corpus=20&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Cauf%20der%20Uni%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Can%20der%20Uni%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cin%20der%20Uni%3B%2Cc0#t1%3B%2Cauf%20der%20Uni%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Can%20der%20Uni%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cin%20der%20Uni%3B%2Cc0
May 24, 2020
2
First of all, grammar is not always logic, as it is a system which is constantly growing and evolving with times and the usage of speakers.
'an' respectively 'auf' der Uni are both correct, but used regionally different.
For example: Ich studiere an/auf der Uni.
May 24, 2020
2
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May 23, 2020
Yes it is logical! That rule exists for for objects liike tables, chairs, books, pictures etc etc (even people if the *exact* position they are in is critical (eg Ich stehe auf dem Tisch).
However, when you talk about places - restaurants, universities, banks etc you need different pronouns. "an" is used with universities.
The difference in german is actually the same as in English - I'm at the university, ich bin an der Uni are correct.
I'm on the uni and Ich bin auf der Uni are not correct - and both mean that you are standing literally on top of the uni - which I presume is not what you mean!
May 23, 2020
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Mehrdad
Language Skills
English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Persian (Farsi), Russian, Spanish
Learning Language
English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Russian, Spanish
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