ergänzen
to add
To add something missing in order to make something whole or complete.
EXAMPLE
Bitte ergänzen Sie die fehlenden Angaben im Formular.
Please add the missing information to the form.
ergänzen
to add / supplement
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Meanings
sich ergänzen
to complement each other
Two or more people or things go well together and complete each other in their qualities or abilities.
EXAMPLE
In unserem Team haben wir unterschiedliche Stärken und ergänzen uns daher perfekt.
In our team, we have different strengths and therefore complement each other perfectly.
ergänzen
to add
To add additional information or a comment to something that has already been said or written.
EXAMPLE
Ich möchte noch ergänzen, dass die Frist bereits morgen abläuft.
I would also like to add that the deadline is already tomorrow.
Usage tips
Word formation
The verb 'ergänzen' (to add/supplement) is derived from the adjective 'ganz' (whole). The prefix 'er-' and the ending '-en' turn it into a verb that literally means to make something 'ganz' (whole) or complete.
EXAMPLE
Könnten Sie Ihre Sammlung um dieses seltene Buch ergänzen?
Could you supplement your collection with this rare book?
Typical collocations
In the meaning 'Fehlendes hinzufügen' (to add what is missing), 'ergänzen' (to add) is often combined with nouns such as 'Liste' (list), 'Sammlung' (collection), 'Daten' (data), or 'Angaben' (information/details).
EXAMPLE
Bitte ergänzen Sie die fehlenden Daten in der Tabelle.
Please add the missing data to the table.
Reflexive use
When people or things complete each other, the verb is used reflexively: 'sich ergänzen' (to complement each other). It is often intensified by adverbs such as 'gut' (well), 'perfekt' (perfectly), or 'gegenseitig' (mutually).
EXAMPLE
Die beiden Musiker ergänzen sich auf der Bühne perfekt.
The two musicians complement each other perfectly on stage.
Sentence pattern for contributions
To add additional information in a conversation or presentation, the phrase 'Ich möchte (noch) ergänzen, dass ...' (I would like to add that ...) is often used. It is followed by a subordinate clause.
EXAMPLE
Ich möchte ergänzen, dass wir für diese Aufgabe mehr Zeit benötigen.
I would like to add that we need more time for this task.
Compare with
erweiternhinzufügenausfüllenbereichernanmerkenaddierenvervollständigenbeisteuernkomplettierenverübelnzusammenpassen
ergänzen vs erweitern
to expand
Erweitern makes a text or an offering larger by adding new content or components, without anything specific necessarily being missing. Ergänzen, by contrast, usually adds a missing aspect or provides additional information. Use erweitern for greater scope and ergänzen for greater completeness.
ergänzen
Wir ergänzen den Bericht um die noch fehlenden Zahlen.
We are supplementing the report with the figures that are still missing.
erweitern
Wir erweitern den Bericht um ein Kapitel über die neuen Ergebnisse.
We are expanding the report by adding a chapter on the new findings.
In real life
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