Learn Hardcore German: Wir verbessern den Plan Schritt für Schritt.

It’s accusative singular. Verbessern takes a direct object, so masculine der Plan becomes den Plan in the accusative. Dative (dem Plan) would be used only with certain prepositions or dative-governing verbs, not as the direct object of verbessern.

Can I drop the article and say Wir verbessern Plan?

No. Singular countable nouns in German normally need an article. Use den Plan (definite) or einen Plan (indefinite). Omitting the article is only typical in headlines, notes, or with plurals/mass nouns.

What exactly is Schritt für Schritt grammatically?

It’s a fixed adverbial phrase meaning “step by step.” Literally “step for step,” with für (which takes the accusative), but both words are bare singular nouns with no article. It behaves like an adverb of manner.

Is Schritte für Schritte ever correct?

No. The idiom is always singular repeated: Schritt für Schritt, never in the plural.

Can I say schrittweise or nach und nach instead of Schritt für Schritt?

Yes, with nuance:

schrittweise: adverb/adjective (“gradually, in stages”), slightly more formal/technical.
nach und nach / allmählich: “gradually, little by little,” more about a gradual process without explicit “steps.”
Schritt für Schritt emphasizes discrete steps.

Is Schritt nach Schritt acceptable?

It’s understandable but non-idiomatic. The standard phrase is Schritt für Schritt. You might see Schritt um Schritt in older texts, but it’s rare today.

Where can Schritt für Schritt go in the sentence? Are other word orders okay?

Yes. All of these are correct, with different emphasis:

Wir verbessern den Plan Schritt für Schritt. (neutral)
Wir verbessern Schritt für Schritt den Plan. (slight focus on the process)
Schritt für Schritt verbessern wir den Plan. (strong focus on the process)
Den Plan verbessern wir Schritt für Schritt. (focus on the plan) The finite verb must stay in second position.

Why is verbessern in second position after Wir?

German main clauses are verb-second (V2). Exactly one constituent precedes the finite verb. Here, Wir is first, so verbessern comes second.

Is verbessern a separable verb? How do I form the perfect?

No. ver- is an inseparable prefix. Perfect: haben + verbessert (no extra ge-). Example: Wir haben den Plan Schritt für Schritt verbessert.

What’s the difference between verbessern and sich verbessern?

verbessern (transitive): “to improve something.” Example: Wir verbessern den Plan.
sich verbessern (reflexive): “to improve oneself / to get better.” Example: Wir verbessern uns.

Could I say Wir machen den Plan besser instead?

Yes, it’s grammatical and colloquial. Verbessern is more concise and standard. Other choices with nuance:

überarbeiten = revise/redraft
optimieren = optimize
verfeinern = refine
korrigieren = correct (errors)
ausbessern = patch/mend (fix defects)

How do I negate the sentence, especially the “step by step” part?

Not improving at all: Wir verbessern den Plan nicht.
Not step by step (but in one go): Wir verbessern den Plan nicht Schritt für Schritt, sondern auf einmal. Place nicht directly before the element you want to negate.

Can the present tense here refer to the future?

Yes. German present can express planned future actions from context: Wir verbessern den Plan Schritt für Schritt (morgen/ab nächster Woche). If you want to be explicit: Wir werden den Plan Schritt für Schritt verbessern.

What is the gender and plural of Plan?

Masculine: der Plan. Accusative singular: den Plan. Plural: die Pläne.

Why are Schritt and Plan capitalized?

All nouns are capitalized in German. Schritt and Plan are nouns, even inside the fixed phrase Schritt für Schritt.

Any pronunciation tips for this sentence?

v in verbessern sounds like English “f”: [f].
w in wir sounds like English “v.”
ü in für is a front-rounded vowel; shape your lips as for “oo” but say “ee.”
Sch in Schritt is [sh]. Approximate: “veer fer-BESS-ern den plaan shrit fyyr shrit.”

Can I use the passive to focus on the plan?

Yes: Der Plan wird Schritt für Schritt verbessert. (The plan is being improved step by step.)

Does für always take the accusative, and is that relevant in Schritt für Schritt?

Yes, für always governs the accusative. In Schritt für Schritt you don’t see case endings because there’s no article, but with articles/adjectives you would: e.g., für jeden Schritt.

Is there a hyphenated form in compounds?

Yes, when used attributively in compounds: eine Schritt-für-Schritt-Anleitung (“a step-by-step guide”).

Where do time and place adverbs go with this sentence?

Typical order is time–manner–place. For example: Wir verbessern den Plan heute Schritt für Schritt im Büro. Word order is flexible, but this pattern is a good default.

Are there contexts where dem Plan would be correct?

Yes, with dative contexts:

With dative verbs: Wir folgen dem Plan.
With dative prepositions: mit/zu/aus/bei/nach dem Plan, etc. Just not as the direct object of verbessern.