to add more / follow up
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to add more
To put additional material, especially fuel such as wood or coal, into a fire or stove to keep it burning.
Es wird kalt, könntest du bitte noch ein paar Scheite Holz in den Kamin nachlegen?
It's getting cold; could you please add a few more logs to the fireplace?
'Nachlegen' (to add more / follow up) is a separable verb. The prefix 'nach-' comes at the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
Wenn das Feuer kleiner wird, lege ich noch etwas Holz nach.
When the fire gets smaller, I add a little more wood.
The verb consists of the prefix 'nach-' and the verb 'legen' (to lay/put). Here, the prefix 'nach-' means something like 'additionally' or 'more'. So you add something in order to intensify or continue an effect.
Die Mannschaft führte 1:0 und wollte unbedingt nachlegen.
The team was leading 1-0 and really wanted to add another.
You can recognize the meaning of 'nachlegen' (to add more / follow up) from the context. If it's about 'Holz' (wood) or 'Ofen' (stove), fuel is meant. With 'Argumenten' (arguments) or 'Beweisen' (evidence), it's about a discussion. In a sports context, 'Tore' (goals) or 'Punkte' (points) are meant.
Draußen schneit es, legst du bitte im Ofen nach?
It's snowing outside; could you please add more to the stove?
When adding another argument in a discussion, the preposition 'mit' and the dative are often used. You 'legt mit etwas nach' (follow up with something).
Sie kritisierte seine Planung und legte mit konkreten Zahlen nach.
She criticized his planning and followed up with concrete figures.
to increase
'erhöhen' and 'nachlegen' can both lead to something becoming more or stronger. 'erhöhen' directly describes the increase of an amount, a value, or an intensity. 'nachlegen', on the other hand, means that you add something more after something is already there: wood to a fire, another argument in a discussion, or another goal in sports. Learners may confuse the words because 'nachlegen' often has the result that something becomes larger or stronger. But the perspective is different: 'erhöhen' says that the value rises; 'nachlegen' says that something additional is added.
Kurz vor Schluss legte die Mannschaft noch ein Tor nach.
Shortly before the end, the team added another goal.
Vor dem Termin hat die Praxis die Zahl der freien Sprechstunden erhöht.
Before the appointment, the practice increased the number of available consultation hours.