What is the past tense of "adopt"?

The past simple of "adopt" is "adopted". They waited three years before they could adopt a baby from another country.

What is the past participle of "adopt"?

The past participle of "adopt" is "adopted". Use it after have/has/had: "I have adopted".

What is a common mistake with "adopt"?

Wrong: "They adopted a foster child after five years of fostering.". Correct: "They adopted their foster child after five years of fostering.". Use 'their' to clarify it's the specific child they had been fostering, not just any foster child.

Conjugation of "Adopt" — All Forms, Examples, and Usage

Q: Is "adopt" regular or irregular?

"Adopt" is a regular English verb. Both past simple and past participle are formed by adding -ed.

Q: How do you pronounce "adopt"?

/əˈdɑːpt/ — Two syllables: a-DOPT. Stress the second syllable. The 'a' at the start is short and schwa-like.

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All 12 Tenses of "Adopt"

Quick reference table — every tense form of "adopt" with the first-person example and a link to the grammar guide for that tense.

Tense	Example (I)	Quick rule
Simple Present	`I adopt`	Used for habits, facts, routines, and permanent situations. Full rule →
Simple Past	`I adopted`	Used for completed actions at a specific time in the past. Full rule →
Simple Future	`I will adopt`	Used for predictions, decisions made at the moment, and promises. Full rule →
Present Continuous	`I am adopting`	Used for actions happening right now or temporary situations. Full rule →
Past Continuous	`I was adopting`	Used for actions in progress at a specific moment in the past. Full rule →
Future Continuous	`I will be adopting`	Used for actions that will be in progress at a specific future time. Full rule →
Present Perfect	`I have adopted`	Used for past actions with present relevance, life experiences, or unfinished situations. Full rule →
Past Perfect	`I had adopted`	Used for an action that was completed before another past action. Full rule →
Future Perfect	`I will have adopted`	Used for an action that will be completed before a specific future time. Full rule →
Present Perfect Continuous	`I have been adopting`	Used for actions that started in the past and continue now, with focus on duration. Full rule →
Past Perfect Continuous	`I had been adopting`	Used for ongoing actions in the past that continued up to another past moment. Full rule →
Future Perfect Continuous	`I will have been adopting`	Used for actions that will have been ongoing up until a specific future time. Full rule →

Past Tense of "Adopt" — Adopted

The past simple of "adopt" is "adopted" — formed by adding "-ed". Use it for actions that were completed at a specific time in the past, such as "yesterday", "last week", or "in 2020". For the full grammar of this tense, see our simple past tense guide.

Past Participle of "Adopt" — Adopted

The past participle of "adopt" is "adopted" — the same form as the past simple, since "adopt" is a regular verb. Use it after "have/has/had" for perfect tenses ("I have adopted") and after "be" for passive voice ("It was adopted").

Is "Adopt" Regular or Irregular?

"Adopt" is a regular English verb. Its past simple and past participle are both formed by adding "-ed" to give "adopted". The 3rd-person singular present is "adopts" and the gerund/present participle is "adopting".

Conjugation pattern: regular: add -ed for past simple and past participle

How to Pronounce "Adopt" and Its Forms

Adopt: /əˈdɑːpt/ — Stress pattern: oO

Two syllables: a-DOPT. Stress the second syllable. The 'a' at the start is short and schwa-like.

Common mispronunciation of "adopt"

Some learners stress the first syllable: AD-opt instead of a-DOPT. The stress belongs on the second syllable.

Syllable breakdown: a · dopt

How to Use "Adopt" — Common Grammar Patterns

Adopt is very common in business and policy contexts for accepting new ideas. In family contexts, it means permanent legal parenthood. Don't confuse 'adopt' and 'foster' — adoption is permanent, fostering is temporary.

adopt a child
adopt + N
adopt a policy

Example Sentences with "Adopt" in Different Tenses

Simple Present: They waited three years before they could adopt a baby from another country. B1

Common Collocations with "Adopt"

adopt a child
adopt a policy
adopt a strategy
adopt measures
adopt a position

When to Use "Adopt" vs Similar Verbs

Smart synonyms — when to use each one

accept — For ideas and practices more commonly
embrace — Suggests willingness and enthusiasm
assume — For taking on responsibility or role

Common Mistakes with "Adopt"

Wrong: She adopt often.
Correct: She adopts often.
Add "s" to the verb when the subject is third-person singular (he/she/it).

Origin and Etymology of "Adopt"

From Latin 'adoptare' (ad- to + optare to choose). The word has been used since the 1200s for taking a child as one's own, and later extended to accepting ideas or practices.

Other Forms of "Adopt"

Noun: adoption
Adjective: adopted

Conjugation Tables for "Adopt"

Negative Forms

Simple present: I do not adopt · He does not adopt
Simple past: I did not adopt · She did not adopt
Present perfect: I have not adopted · He has not adopted

Question Forms

Simple present: Do you adopt? · Does he adopt?
Simple past: Did you adopt?
Present perfect: Have you adopted?

Passive Voice (where applicable)

Simple present passive: It is adopted
Simple past passive: It was adopted
Present perfect passive: It has been adopted

Frequently Asked Questions About "Adopt"

Is "adopt" regular or irregular?: "adopt" is a regular verb. Add -ed for past simple and past participle: "adopted".
What is the past tense of "adopt"?: The simple past of "adopt" is "adopted".
When do I use simple present vs present continuous with "adopt"?: Use simple present for habits, facts, and routines: "I adopt every day." Use present continuous for actions happening right now: "I am adopting right now."