to promote / extract
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to promote
To actively support the development or success of something or someone, often through financial or non-material means.
Die Stiftung fördert begabte Studierende mit Stipendien.
The foundation promotes talented students with scholarships.
The verb 'fördern' (to promote/extract) is always used with an accusative object. You ask: Whom or what does someone promote/extract?
Die Regierung fördert den Bau von Solaranlagen.
The government promotes the construction of solar panels.
The context reveals the meaning: If people, talents, or projects are being gefördert (promoted), it means 'unterstützen' (to support). If raw materials such as coal or oil are being gefördert (extracted), it means 'gewinnen' (to obtain) or 'abbauen' (to mine).
Unsere Schule fördert musikalische Talente.
Our school promotes musical talents.
In the meaning of 'unterstützen' (to support), 'fördern' (to promote) is often combined with abstract nouns such as 'das Wachstum' (growth), 'die Entwicklung' (development), or 'das Verständnis' (understanding).
Internationale Programme sollen den kulturellen Austausch fördern.
International programs are intended to promote cultural exchange.
When it comes to raw materials, typical objects are 'Kohle' (coal), 'Erz' (ore), 'Salz' (salt), 'Erdöl' (oil), or 'Erdgas' (natural gas).
In der Region wird seit Jahrhunderten Salz gefördert.
Salt has been extracted in the region for centuries.
The expression 'zutage fördern' (to bring to light) is fixed and means that something that was hidden or unknown is discovered or uncovered.
Die Recherche hat überraschende Fakten zutage gefördert.
The research brought surprising facts to light.
to win / gain
'gewinnen' and 'fördern' can both be used with raw materials like oil, gas, or coal. 'gewinnen' is more general and means that you obtain something or make it usable through a process. 'fördern' is more specific in this context: it means extracting raw materials from the earth and bringing them up to the surface. That is why people often say that a company 'Öl fördert' (extracts oil). The words are easy to confuse because both occur with raw materials. Important: 'fördern' can also mean to support or promote, but that is not the same meaning as 'gewinnen' here.
In dieser Region fördern die Arbeiter seit vielen Jahren Kohle.
Workers have been extracting coal in this region for many years.
Aus Sonnenlicht gewinnen wir Energie für das Haus.
We obtain energy for the house from sunlight.