Das Wetter verbessert sich langsam.

The weather is improving slowly.

Breakdown of Das Wetter verbessert sich langsam.

• langsam: slowly
• das Wetter: the weather
• sich verbessern: to improve

Questions & Answers about Das Wetter verbessert sich langsam.

Why is sich used in Das Wetter verbessert sich langsam?

Because verbessern is a pronominal (reflexive/intransitive) verb in this context. When you say sich verbessern, it means “to get better” or “to improve on its own.” The reflexive pronoun sich shows that the subject (here das Wetter) is both doing and receiving the action.

How is sich verbessern different from etwas verbessern?

• etwas verbessern (transitive) means “to improve something” and takes a direct object in the accusative case (e.g., Ich verbessere den Text).
• sich verbessern (reflexive/intransitive) means “to get better” (the subject improves itself or its condition) and uses the reflexive pronoun instead of an external object.

Why does verbessert appear immediately after Das Wetter?

German main clauses follow the V2 (verb-second) rule: the finite verb must occupy the second position. Here:

1. Position 1: Das Wetter (subject)
2. Position 2: verbessert (conjugated verb)
   Everything else (pronouns, adverbs, objects) comes afterward.

Why can’t we say Das Wetter verbessert langsam sich?

In standard German word order, the reflexive pronoun comes directly after the conjugated verb, and adverbs of manner follow the pronoun. So you must say:
verb + reflexive pronoun + adverb
→ verbessert + sich + langsam

Which auxiliary verb do we use for the perfect tense of this sentence?

We use haben, because verbessern (even reflexively) takes haben, not sein.
Perfect tense: Das Wetter hat sich verbessert.

What is the gender of Wetter, and why is the article das?

Wetter is a neuter noun in German. In nominative case, all neuter nouns take the article das.

Can langsam appear in a different position, for example at the beginning of the sentence?

Yes. If you front the adverb, the finite verb still stays in second position and the subject follows.
Example: Langsam verbessert sich das Wetter.