hinzuzufügen

Hinzuzufügen is the zu-infinitive form of the German verb hinzufügen, meaning to add or to append something. It is used in non-finite clauses to indicate an addition to a statement, text, or argument. The form hinzuzufügen appears when the infinitive is introduced by zu and functions as part of a larger sentence, typically after adjectives such as wichtig, notwendig or sinnvoll, or after verbs that govern a zu-infinitive clause.

Usage and examples:

- Es ist wichtig, etwas hinzuzufügen. This means “It is important to add something.”

- Es ist notwendig, dem Bericht noch einen Abschnitt hinzuzufügen. This means “It is necessary to add another section to the report.”

- Ich möchte dem Text noch etwas hinzuzufügen. This means “I would like to add something to the text.”

Notes on style and meaning:

- Hinzuzufügen emphasizes the act of adding content to something that has been stated or prepared. In many contexts, it contrasts with adding by using the bare infinitive form hinzufügen without zu, as in Ich möchte noch etwas hinzufügen, where no zu is used because the main verb governs the bare infinitive.

- Synonyms or closely related ideas include ergänzen (to supplement), hinzufügen (to add), or erweitern (to extend), depending on nuance.

Etymology:

- The word combines hin- (a directional prefix) or a prefixal element related to addition, with zu, forming the zu-infinitive of hinzufügen. The construction is typical for forming non-finite clauses in German.