to improve
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to improve
To get better; to develop in a positive direction. Often refers to someone's health, the weather, or a person's behavior.
Sein Gesundheitszustand hat sich nach der Operation schnell gebessert.
His health improved quickly after the operation.
The verb 'bessern' (to improve) is derived directly from 'besser' (better), the comparative form of 'gut' (good). So it describes the process of becoming better.
Ich hoffe, das Wetter bessert sich bald.
I hope the weather improves soon.
In its most common meaning, 'bessern' is used reflexively: 'sich bessern' (to improve/get better). The subject of the sentence is the thing or person that is getting better. The reflexive pronoun is obligatory in this use.
Die wirtschaftliche Lage des Landes hat sich im letzten Quartal gebessert.
The country's economic situation improved in the last quarter.
'Sich bessern' (to improve/get better) is often used in relation to impersonal states such as the weather, a situation, or health. Typical subjects are 'das Wetter' (the weather), 'die Lage' (the situation), or 'der Gesundheitszustand' (the state of health).
Die Stimmung im Team hat sich nach dem Gespräch deutlich gebessert.
The mood in the team improved significantly after the conversation.
The use of 'bessern' with an accusative object ('etwas bessern' — to correct/improve something) is very rare today and sounds outdated or very formal. Usually the verb 'verbessern' (to improve) is used instead.
Der Autor besserte einige Stellen in seinem Manuskript.
The author corrected a few passages in his manuscript.
to improve
'verbessern' and 'bessern' can both express that something gets better or is made better. In modern German, however, 'verbessern' is much broader and more common: you can 'verbessern' a text, a performance, a situation, or a mistake. 'sich bessern' is often used for health, weather, behavior, or a situation that improves by itself. The form 'bessern' with an object is rare and today usually sounds old-fashioned or unfamiliar. Learners easily confuse the words because they look similar. A safe rule is: with an object, you usually use 'verbessern'; for conditions or states, people often say 'es bessert sich' (it is improving) or 'die Lage bessert sich' (the situation is improving).
Nach zwei Tagen Ruhe bessert sich sein Husten langsam.
After two days of rest, his cough is slowly getting better.
Lisa verbessert ihren Text, weil die Lehrerin noch Fehler gefunden hat.
Lisa is correcting her text because the teacher found more mistakes.