Améliorer Conjugation in French
améliorer means “to improve” in English, and it is one of the verbs French learners meet early — it sits at frequency rank 173 in VerbFlow’s French list. It is a non-reflexive, regular -er verb, and this page gives you its complete conjugation — every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle — with notes, examples, common mistakes and a quiz. Here is the verb in a natural sentence: “J'améliore le projet tous les jours.” — “I improve the project every day.”
Quick facts
- Infinitive: améliorer
- English: to improve
- Verb type: Non-reflexive, Regular
- Irregular in: no tense — fully regular
- Gerund: en améliorant
- Past participle: amélioré
- Auxiliary: avoir (all perfect tenses are formed with avoir + the past participle)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for améliorer, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from VerbFlow’s verified conjugation tables for améliorer. Learn the present tense first, then the passé composé and the imperfect, and add the remaining tenses one at a time.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | améliore |
| tu | améliores |
| il/elle | améliore |
| nous | améliorons |
| vous | améliorez |
| ils/elles | améliorent |
Passé simple
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | améliorai |
| tu | amélioras |
| il/elle | améliora |
| nous | améliorâmes |
| vous | améliorâtes |
| ils/elles | améliorèrent |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | améliorais |
| tu | améliorais |
| il/elle | améliorait |
| nous | améliorions |
| vous | amélioriez |
| ils/elles | amélioraient |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | améliorerai |
| tu | amélioreras |
| il/elle | améliorera |
| nous | améliorerons |
| vous | améliorerez |
| ils/elles | amélioreront |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | améliorerais |
| tu | améliorerais |
| il/elle | améliorerait |
| nous | améliorerions |
| vous | amélioreriez |
| ils/elles | amélioreraient |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | ai amélioré |
| tu | as amélioré |
| il/elle | a amélioré |
| nous | avons amélioré |
| vous | avez amélioré |
| ils/elles | ont amélioré |
Pluperfect (past perfect)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | avais amélioré |
| tu | avais amélioré |
| il/elle | avait amélioré |
| nous | avions amélioré |
| vous | aviez amélioré |
| ils/elles | avaient amélioré |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | aurai amélioré |
| tu | auras amélioré |
| il/elle | aura amélioré |
| nous | aurons amélioré |
| vous | aurez amélioré |
| ils/elles | auront amélioré |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | aurais amélioré |
| tu | aurais amélioré |
| il/elle | aurait amélioré |
| nous | aurions amélioré |
| vous | auriez amélioré |
| ils/elles | auraient amélioré |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | améliore |
| tu | améliores |
| il/elle | améliore |
| nous | améliorions |
| vous | amélioriez |
| ils/elles | améliorent |
Imperfect subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | améliorasse |
| tu | améliorasses |
| il/elle | améliorât |
| nous | améliorassions |
| vous | améliorassiez |
| ils/elles | améliorassent |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | améliore |
| nous | améliorons |
| vous | améliorez |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | améliore |
| nous | améliorons |
| vous | améliorez |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | French |
|---|---|
| Gerund | en améliorant |
| Past participle | amélioré |
When to use each tense
Present indicative
The present indicative is used for habits, facts and things happening now. With améliorer this tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard -er pattern. For example: “J'améliore le projet tous les jours.” — “I improve the project every day.”
Passé simple
The passé simple is used for completed actions in the past, mainly in written and literary French. With améliorer this tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard -er pattern. For example: “Tu amélioras le projet la semaine dernière.” — “You improved the project last week.”
Imperfect
The imperfect is used for ongoing or habitual actions in the past, and for background description. With améliorer this tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard -er pattern. For example: “Il améliorait le projet ce matin.” — “He used to improve the project this morning.”
Future
The future is used for what will happen, and for predictions. With améliorer this tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard -er pattern. For example: “Nous améliorerons le projet.” — “We will improve the project.”
Conditional
The conditional is used for what would happen, for polite requests and for hypothetical situations. With améliorer this tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard -er pattern. For example: “Vous amélioreriez le projet.” — “You would improve the project.”
Present perfect
The present perfect (passé composé) is used for completed actions in the past, especially in spoken French. With améliorer this tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard -er pattern. For example: “Ils ont amélioré le projet hier.” — “They have improved the project yesterday.”
Pluperfect (past perfect)
The pluperfect (past perfect) is used for an action completed before another past action. With améliorer this tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard -er pattern. For example: “J'avais amélioré le projet hier.” — “I had improved the project yesterday.”
Future perfect
The future perfect is used for what will have happened by a point in the future. With améliorer this tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard -er pattern. For example: “Tu auras amélioré le projet la semaine prochaine.” — “You will have improved the project next week.”
Conditional perfect
The conditional perfect is used for what would have happened in a different past. With améliorer this tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard -er pattern. For example: “Il aurait amélioré le projet ce matin.” — “He would have improved the project this morning.”
Present subjunctive
The present subjunctive is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and opinions after que. With améliorer this tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard -er pattern. For example: “Il est important que nous améliorions le projet tous les jours.” — “It is important that We improve the project every day.”
Imperfect subjunctive
The imperfect subjunctive is used for the past subjunctive: wishes and hypotheticals about the past, mostly in formal and literary French. With améliorer this tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard -er pattern. For example: “Il fallait que vous améliorassiez le projet hier.” — “It was necessary that You improve the project yesterday.”
Imperative (affirmative)
The imperative (affirmative) is used for direct commands and instructions. With améliorer this tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard -er pattern. For example: “Améliorez le projet !” — “Improve the project!”
Imperative (negative)
The imperative (negative) is used for prohibitions and negative commands. With améliorer this tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard -er pattern. For example: “Ne améliore pas le projet !” — “Do not improve the project!”
Gerund and past participle
The gerund en améliorant is used after en for an action happening at the same time as the main verb. For example: “En améliorant, je commence la journée.” — “While improving, I start the day.” The past participle amélioré is used with avoir in the perfect tenses, as in j'ai amélioré — “I have improved the project yesterday.”
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with améliorer, covering different tenses and persons. Say each one aloud, then cover the French and try to produce it from the English.
- “J'améliore le projet à la maison.” — “I improve the project at home.”
- “Tu amélioras le projet ce matin.” — “You improved the project this morning.”
- “Il améliorait le projet avec Paul.” — “He used to improve the project with Paul.”
- “J'améliorerai le projet demain.” — “I will improve the project tomorrow.”
- “Tu améliorerais le projet tous les jours.” — “You would improve the project every day.”
- “Il a amélioré le projet la semaine dernière.” — “He has improved the project last week.”
- “J'avais amélioré le projet ce matin.” — “I had improved the project this morning.”
- “Tu auras amélioré le projet demain.” — “You will have improved the project tomorrow.”
- “Il est important que il améliore le projet tous les jours.” — “It is important that He improve the project every day.”
- “Améliore le projet !” — “Improve the project!”
Common mistakes
1. Using the infinitive instead of a conjugated form
✗ Wrong: “Je améliorer le projet.”
✓ Right: “J'améliore le projet tous les jours.”
The infinitive améliorer never takes a subject. After je you need the conjugated present form améliore.
2. Using the wrong person
✗ Wrong: “Je améliores le projet.”
✓ Right: “J'améliore le projet tous les jours.”
améliores is the tu form, not the je form. The je form is améliore — check the person before you write the form.
3. Using the present for a finished past action
✗ Wrong: “J'améliore le projet hier.”
✓ Right: “J'ai amélioré le projet hier.”
Hier points to the past, so use the present perfect ai amélioré here, not the present améliore.
4. Mixing up the stem in the stressed forms
✗ Wrong: “Je améliorons le projet.”
✓ Right: “J'améliore le projet tous les jours.”
améliorons is the nous form. The je form is améliore — the two persons never share a form in the present of améliorer.
5. Using the wrong auxiliary in the passé composé
✗ Wrong: “Je suis amélioré le projet hier.”
✓ Right: “J'ai amélioré le projet hier.”
améliorer takes avoir in the compound tenses, not être: ai amélioré, never the être form.
6. Using the indicative after a subjunctive trigger
✗ Wrong: “Il est important que nous améliorons le projet.”
✓ Right: “Il est important que nous améliorions le projet.”
After il est important que French needs the subjunctive, so use améliorions here, not the indicative améliorons.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on améliorer. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
What is the je form of améliorer in the Present indicative?
- A) améliorerais
- B) améliorasse
- C) améliorent
- D) améliore
What is the il/elle form of améliorer in the Passé simple?
- A) aura amélioré
- B) améliorerait
- C) améliore
- D) améliora
What is the nous form of améliorer in the Imperfect?
- A) améliorerions
- B) améliorions
- C) avions amélioré
- D) améliorais
What is the tu form of améliorer in the Future?
- A) améliorerai
- B) aurais amélioré
- C) améliorais
- D) amélioreras
What is the je form of améliorer in the Conditional?
- A) améliorais
- B) avais amélioré
- C) améliorerais
- D) ai amélioré
What is the il/elle form of améliorer in the Present subjunctive?
- A) aurait amélioré
- B) améliore
- C) améliorent
- D) améliorât
What is the nous form of améliorer in the Present perfect (passé composé)?
- A) a amélioré
- B) aurons amélioré
- C) avons amélioré
- D) améliorions
What is the gerund of améliorer?
- A) conclusant
- B) en améliorant
- C) bougeant
- D) réparant
What is the past participle of améliorer?
- A) amélioré
- B) enlevé
- C) comparé
- D) arrangé
What does améliorer mean in English?
- A) announce
- B) improve
- C) repair
- D) adopt
Answer key
- D) améliore — the je form of améliorer in the present indicative is améliore. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
- D) améliora — the il/elle form of améliorer in the passé simple is améliora. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
- B) améliorions — the nous form of améliorer in the imperfect is améliorions. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
- D) amélioreras — the tu form of améliorer in the future is amélioreras. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
- C) améliorerais — the je form of améliorer in the conditional is améliorerais. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
- B) améliore — the il/elle form of améliorer in the present subjunctive is améliore. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
- C) avons amélioré — the nous form of améliorer in the present perfect (passé composé) is avons amélioré. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
- B) en améliorant — the gerund of améliorer is en améliorant; it is used with en for actions happening at the same time as the main verb. The other options are the present participles of neighbouring verbs.
- A) amélioré — the past participle of améliorer is amélioré; perfect tenses use avoir + amélioré. The other options are the participles of neighbouring verbs.
- B) improve — améliorer means “to improve” in English. The other options are the meanings of neighbouring verbs.
How to learn this verb
Learn améliorer in three passes. First, say the present tense aloud in order — j'améliore, tu améliores, il améliore, nous améliorons, vous améliorez, ils améliorent — three times, then write three sentences with the verb. Second, learn the passé composé with its auxiliary: ai amélioré shows the pattern, and the participle amélioré is the same in every perfect tense. Third, add one new tense a day, always in a sentence, and test yourself the next day before you learn the next one. A verb you can use in a sentence is learnt; a verb you can only recite is not. Use the Verb Quiz and the Verb Conjugator to check what has stuck, and compare améliorer with the other verbs in this batch on the French verbs hub.
Frequently asked questions
What does améliorer mean in English?
améliorer means “to improve”. It is a non-reflexive, regular verb, so its present-tense forms are worth learning first.
Is améliorer regular or irregular?
améliorer is regular, and it is irregular in these tenses: none. améliorer is regular: every form follows the standard -er endings, so once you know the pattern you can build every tense from the stem. There are no surprises in any tense — the tables below are exactly what the endings predict.
What are the gerund and past participle of améliorer?
The gerund is en améliorant — use it after en for an action happening at the same time as the main verb. The past participle is amélioré — use it with avoir for the perfect tenses, as in j'ai amélioré.
How do I say “I improve” in French?
Say “J'améliore le projet tous les jours.” — “I improve the project every day.” The je form of the present is améliore, and it is the form you will use most often.
How do you pronounce améliorer?
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for améliorer, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one.
Related pages
- améliorer in the present tense
- améliorer examples and quiz
- Amener conjugation — another French verb in this batch.
- Cesser conjugation — another French verb in this batch.
- French verbs — the full hub of French conjugation pages.
- French irregular verbs — every common irregular French verb, grouped by pattern.
- Spanish verbs — the full hub of Spanish conjugation pages.
- Irregular Verb Finder — practise améliorer with the interactive tool.
- Verb Of The Day — practise améliorer with the interactive tool.
- Conjugation Chart Printer — practise améliorer with the interactive tool.