ergänzt

Ergänzt is the third-person singular present tense form of the German verb ergänzen. It means to add to or to supplement something in order to make it more complete. The form also appears as the past participle in compound tenses, as in hat ergänzt, which is used to describe actions completed in the past. In addition, the adjective form ergänzend and the noun Ergänzung are related derivatives.

Etymology and meaning: ergänzen comes from the German verb meaning to complete or to supplement. The prefix er- does not change the core sense; the verb is used to indicate adding missing parts, information, or details to an existing whole. It is common in formal and informal language alike.

Usage and scope: Ergänzen is a transitive verb and typically requires a direct object representing what is being added to something else. Common contexts include editing text, updating data, or expanding an argument. For example: Er ergänzt den Bericht um eine neue Information. Der Bericht ergänzt die Daten. In the past tense: Er hat den Bericht ergänzt. Passive forms are also possible: Der Bericht wurde ergänzt.

Related forms: The related adjective ergänzend describes something that complements or adds in an auxiliary way, as in ergänzende Informationen. The noun Ergänzung refers to an addition or supplement itself, a separate element that completes something else.

See also: ergänzend, Ergänzung, ergänzen (the base verb).