 Rational approximation of an ample-plus-effective real divisor

Suppose $D{\sim }_{\mathbb{R}}tA+E$ on an integral projective variety, where $t>0$, $A$ is ample Cartier and $E$ is effective real Cartier. Then $D$ is an actual positive combination of big Cartier divisors.

Here is a finite-dimensional proof. First assume $X$ is normal. Express $D$ and $E$ in finite Cartier bases and write $D-tA-E$ as a finite combination of principal Cartier divisors. The union of the supports of these finitely many divisors has finitely many prime components. Their integer multiplicities turn the equality into finitely many rational linear equations and effectivity into finitely many rational linear inequalities. The given coefficient tuple lies in a rational polyhedron. Take its smallest face; within that face it lies in the relative interior, and $t>0$ is an open condition. A small simplex with rational vertices in this relative interior contains the tuple. Each vertex gives $D_{\nu }{\sim }_{\mathbb{Q}}{t}_{\nu }A+E_{\nu }$ with $t_{\nu }>0$ and $E_{\nu }\ge 0$. Clearing denominators and applying Kodaira's lemma shows that $D_{\nu }$ is a positive rational multiple of a big Cartier divisor. Taking the original convex weights proves the required actual equality.

If $X$ is nonnormal, pull the finite Cartier bases and the relation to its finite normalization and impose the same rational equations and effectivity inequalities there. The vertex divisors remain rational Cartier divisors on $X$ because they were constructed in bases from $X$. They are big on the normalization, hence big on $X$ by bigness under finite normalization. This proves the same conclusion. Effectivity is used in the usual effective Cartier sense so that pullback is effective; arbitrary cycles on a nonnormal variety cannot be substituted without defining a compatible divisor theory.