overwrite private class members in php5?

Hi, I've done something like this: class MyClass { private $var; function __construct($value) {

    $this->var = $value;

} public function printVar() {

    echo($this->var);

} } $object = new MyClass('1'); $object->printVar(); // prints 1 $object->var = 3; // Fatal Error as expected $object->$var = 2; // no error msg $object->printVar(); // prints 2 Hows that possible or what's the difference between $object->var and $object->$var ? thanks in advance for your help! Norbert