ameliorer

Améliorer is a French verb meaning to make something better or to become better. It derives from Latin meliorare and Old French ameliorer, and is cognate with the English word ameliorate. It is a regular -er verb in its conjugation.

It is used transitively to indicate improvement of a thing, as in améliorer une situation or améliorer ses compétences. It can also be used intransitively as s'améliorer to denote improvement of one’s condition or circumstances, for example la situation s'améliore or sa santé s'améliore.

Conjugation is regular for an -er verb. In the present tense: j'améliore, tu amélior es? No, the correct forms are j'améliore, tu améliores, il améliore, nous améliorons, vous améliorez, ils améliorent. The passé composé uses auxiliary avoir: j'ai amélioré. The imperfect is j'améliorais, tu améliorais, il améliorait, nous améliorions, vous amélioriez, ils amélioraient. The subjunctive present is que j'améliore, que tu améliores, qu'il améliore, que nous améliorions, que vous amélioriez, qu'ils améliorent. The future is j'améliorerai and the conditional j'améliorerais.

Related forms include the noun l'amélioration (improvement) and the adjective améliorable (capable of being improved). The present participle, improving in ongoing processes, is améliorant. A common nuance distinguishes improving something concrete from situations that gradually improve through ongoing efforts.