to increase / add a story
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to increase
To increase an existing quantity, amount, or stock. This can refer to supplies, staff, capital, or other resources.
Das Unternehmen plant, die IT-Abteilung um zehn Mitarbeiter aufzustocken.
The company plans to increase the IT department by ten employees.
to add a story
To make a building taller by adding one or more additional stories.
Die Familie möchte ihr Einfamilienhaus aufstocken, um Platz für ein weiteres Kinderzimmer zu schaffen.
The family wants to add a story to their single-family house to create space for another children's room.
'Aufstocken' is a separable verb. In a main clause, the prefix 'auf' comes at the end of the sentence.
Wir stocken unsere Vorräte für den Winter auf.
We are stocking up our supplies for the winter.
The verb comes from the noun 'der Stock' in the sense of 'Stockwerk' (story/floor). The literal meaning is to put another story onto a building. Figuratively, it means to increase an amount, as if adding another level.
Sie haben ihr Haus um ein ganzes Stockwerk aufgestockt.
They added an entire story to their house.
When you want to state the exact amount of the increase, use the preposition 'um' followed by the accusative.
Die Firma stockt das Personal um 20 Personen auf.
The company is increasing its staff by 20 people.
Common things that you 'aufstockt' (increase/stock up) are 'das Personal' (staff), 'das Kapital' (capital), 'die Vorräte' (supplies), or also 'das Gehalt' (salary).
Vor dem langen Wochenende müssen wir die Lebensmittelvorräte aufstocken.
Before the long weekend, we need to stock up on food supplies.
to increase
When a quantity or amount is to become larger, erhöhen and aufstocken are often both possible. Erhöhen is the general term for a higher value, while aufstocken emphasizes that something is added to an existing resource. Use aufstocken when the existing stock is visibly expanded.
Die Stadt will das bereits vorhandene Budget für die Reparatur um 10.000 Euro aufstocken.
The city wants to increase the existing repair budget by 10,000 euros.
Die Stadt will den Betrag für die Reparatur auf 50.000 Euro erhöhen.
The city wants to increase the amount for the repairs to 50,000 euros.
