erweitern
to expand
To make something larger in size, area, or extent.
EXAMPLE
Die Firma plant, ihre Produktionshalle zu erweitern.
The company plans to expand its production hall.
erweitern
to expand
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Meanings
erweitern
to expand
To enlarge something in terms of content or offerings by adding new elements or aspects.
EXAMPLE
Ich möchte meinen Horizont erweitern und eine neue Sprache lernen.
I want to expand my horizons and learn a new language.
Usage tips
Word formation
The verb 'erweitern' (to expand) is derived from the adjective 'weit' (wide / far). The prefix 'er-' and the ending '-n' turn it into a verb that describes the process of making something 'weit' or 'weiter' (wider / further).
EXAMPLE
Die Stadt will das Netz der Fahrradwege erweitern.
The city wants to expand the network of bike paths.
Inseparable verb
The prefix 'er-' is inseparable. It remains directly attached to the verb stem in all sentence forms and tenses.
EXAMPLE
Er hat seine Sprachkenntnisse im Ausland erweitert.
He expanded his language skills abroad.
Concrete vs. abstract objects
The object of the verb indicates the meaning. Concrete objects like 'Haus' (house) or 'Garten' (garden) mean an increase in area. Abstract objects like 'Wissen' (knowledge) or 'Angebot' (offerings) mean an expansion in content.
EXAMPLE
Wir müssen das Wohnzimmer um einen Anbau erweitern.
We need to expand the living room with an extension.
Typical collocations
In a figurative sense, 'erweitern' (to expand) is very often used with abstract nouns such as 'Wissen' (knowledge), 'Kenntnisse' (skills / knowledge), 'Fähigkeiten' (abilities), or 'Horizont' (horizon).
EXAMPLE
Durch Reisen kann man seinen Horizont erweitern.
Traveling can expand your horizons.
Compare with
erweitern vs ergänzen
to add / supplement
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.
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.
ergänzen
Wir ergänzen den Bericht um die noch fehlenden Zahlen.
We are supplementing the report with the figures that are still missing.
In real life
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