Adaptarse Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb adaptarse means to adapt, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Adaptarse means to adapt, and it is used for people adjusting to a new country, a new job or a new situation, and for things that are adjusted to fit a purpose. Like acostumbrarse it takes a, as in adaptarse a los cambios, but it stresses changing to fit, not simply getting used to something. Like every Spanish verb, adaptarse changes its ending for each person and tense, and this page gives you the complete picture: every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle, all from the verified conjugation tables. For example, in the present tense you say me adapto a los cambios de la empresa, and in the preterite you say me adapté a la vida en la ciudad. Work through the tables below, read the notes for each tense, and then test yourself with the examples, the common mistakes and the quiz at the end of the page.

Quick facts

  • Infinitive: adaptarse
  • English: to adapt
  • Verb type: regular -ar verb, reflexive
  • Ending: -ar
  • Gerund: adaptando
  • Past participle: adaptado
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + adaptado)
  • Reflexive pronouns: me, te, se, nos, os, se — one before every conjugated form, matching the person.

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for adaptarse, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Adaptarse takes a for what you adapt to: me adapto a los cambios. Adaptar without the pronoun means adapting something else.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for adaptarse. The imperfect subjunctive is shown in its -ra forms; the -se forms use the same stem. For reflexive verbs, the pronoun column shows the reflexive pronoun that goes before each form.

Present indicative

Person Pronoun Form
yo me adapto
tú te adaptas
él/ella/Ud. se adapta
nosotros/as nos adaptamos
vosotros/as os adaptáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. se adaptan

Preterite

Person Pronoun Form
yo me adapté
tú te adaptaste
él/ella/Ud. se adaptó
nosotros/as nos adaptamos
vosotros/as os adaptasteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. se adaptaron

Imperfect

Person Pronoun Form
yo me adaptaba
tú te adaptabas
él/ella/Ud. se adaptaba
nosotros/as nos adaptábamos
vosotros/as os adaptabais
ellos/ellas/Uds. se adaptaban

Future

Person Pronoun Form
yo me adaptaré
tú te adaptarás
él/ella/Ud. se adaptará
nosotros/as nos adaptaremos
vosotros/as os adaptaréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. se adaptarán

Conditional

Person Pronoun Form
yo me adaptaría
tú te adaptarías
él/ella/Ud. se adaptaría
nosotros/as nos adaptaríamos
vosotros/as os adaptaríais
ellos/ellas/Uds. se adaptarían

Present perfect

Person Pronoun Form
yo me he adaptado
tú te has adaptado
él/ella/Ud. se ha adaptado
nosotros/as nos hemos adaptado
vosotros/as os habéis adaptado
ellos/ellas/Uds. se han adaptado

Pluperfect

Person Pronoun Form
yo me había adaptado
tú te habías adaptado
él/ella/Ud. se había adaptado
nosotros/as nos habíamos adaptado
vosotros/as os habíais adaptado
ellos/ellas/Uds. se habían adaptado

Future perfect

Person Pronoun Form
yo me habré adaptado
tú te habrás adaptado
él/ella/Ud. se habrá adaptado
nosotros/as nos habremos adaptado
vosotros/as os habréis adaptado
ellos/ellas/Uds. se habrán adaptado

Conditional perfect

Person Pronoun Form
yo me habría adaptado
tú te habrías adaptado
él/ella/Ud. se habría adaptado
nosotros/as nos habríamos adaptado
vosotros/as os habríais adaptado
ellos/ellas/Uds. se habrían adaptado

Present subjunctive

Person Pronoun Form
yo me adapte
tú te adaptes
él/ella/Ud. se adapte
nosotros/as nos adaptemos
vosotros/as os adaptéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. se adapten

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Person Pronoun Form
yo me adaptara
tú te adaptaras
él/ella/Ud. se adaptara
nosotros/as nos adaptáramos
vosotros/as os adaptarais
ellos/ellas/Uds. se adaptaran

Imperative (affirmative)

Person Pronoun Form
tú te adapta
él/ella/Ud. se adapte
nosotros/as nos adaptemos
vosotros/as os adaptad
ellos/ellas/Uds. se adapten

Imperative (negative)

Person Pronoun Form
tú te adaptes
él/ella/Ud. se adapte
nosotros/as nos adaptemos
vosotros/as os adaptéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. se adapten

Gerund and past participle

Form Spanish Use
Gerund adaptando with estar for the progressive: estoy adaptando (or me estoy adaptando for this reflexive verb)
Past participle adaptado with haber for the perfect tenses: he adaptado

How to use each tense

Present indicative

Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For adaptarse, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Me adapto a los cambios de la empresa. Learn the present forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Preterite

Use the preterite for finished actions with a clear end, often with ayer, el año pasado or anoche. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For adaptarse, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, me adapté al clima del norte. Learn the preterite forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Imperfect

Use the imperfect for background, habits and actions in progress in the past, often with de niño, antes or mientras. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For adaptarse, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, me adaptaba a la vida en la ciudad. Learn the imperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Future

Use the future for plans, predictions and promises, often with mañana, el año que viene or pronto. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For adaptarse, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, me adaptaré a las normas del colegio. Learn the future forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Conditional

Use the conditional for polite requests, hypotheticals and what would happen, often with si clauses. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For adaptarse, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Me adaptaría a los cambios de la empresa si pudiera. Learn the conditional forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Present perfect

Use the present perfect for recent actions and experiences, often with hoy, esta semana or ya. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For adaptarse, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, me he adaptado al clima del norte. Learn the present perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Pluperfect

Use the pluperfect when one past action happened before another past action. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For adaptarse, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Me había adaptado a la vida en la ciudad antes de salir. Learn the pluperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Future perfect

Use the future perfect for something that will already be finished by a future time. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For adaptarse, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, me habré adaptado a las normas del colegio. Learn the future perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Conditional perfect

Use the conditional perfect for what would have happened under different conditions. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For adaptarse, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Me habría adaptado a los cambios de la empresa con más tiempo. Learn the conditional perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Present subjunctive

Use the present subjunctive after expressions of wish, doubt, emotion and hope, such as espero que or quiero que. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For adaptarse, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él se adapte al clima del norte. Learn the present subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Use the imperfect subjunctive after past wishes and in si clauses about the past, and note the -ra forms shown here; the -se forms use the same stem. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For adaptarse, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él se adaptara a la vida en la ciudad, todo cambiaría. Learn the imperfect subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Imperative (affirmative)

Use the affirmative imperative for direct commands, instructions and invitations. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For adaptarse, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: Que se adapte a las normas del colegio. Learn the affirmative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Imperative (negative)

Use the negative imperative, always with no, to tell someone not to do something. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For adaptarse, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No te adaptes a los cambios de la empresa. Learn the negative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Example sentences

Ten natural sentences with adaptarse, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Me adapto a los cambios de la empresa. — I adapt to the company's changes.
  2. Se adapta al clima del norte. — He/she adapts to the climate of the north.
  3. Ayer, me adapté a la vida en la ciudad. — Yesterday, I adapted to life in the city.
  4. Antes, nosotros nos adaptábamos a las normas del colegio. — Before, we used to adapt to the school's rules.
  5. Mañana, tú te adaptarás a los cambios de la empresa. — Tomorrow, you will adapt to the company's changes.
  6. Yo me adaptaría al clima del norte si tuviera más tiempo. — I would adapt to the climate of the north if I had more time.
  7. Él se ha adaptado a la vida en la ciudad. — He has adapted to life in the city.
  8. Espero que él se adapte a las normas del colegio. — I hope he adapts to the school's rules.
  9. Yo ya me había adaptado a los cambios de la empresa antes de salir. — I had already adapted to the company's changes before leaving.
  10. Ellos se adaptaban al clima del norte cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to adapt to the climate of the north when they were young.

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo adapto a los cambios de la empresa. — Right: Yo me adapto a los cambios de la empresa. — Adaptarse is reflexive, so the pronoun me is required: without it the verb means something else, or nothing at all.
  2. Wrong: Ayer yo adapto al clima del norte. — Right: Ayer yo adapté al clima del norte. — The present and the preterite are different tenses: adapto is happening now, while adapté is a finished action in the past. Use the preterite with ayer.
  3. Wrong: Treating adaptarse and acostumbrarse as identical in every context. — Right: Adaptarse means to adapt, while acostumbrarse means to get used to. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: adaptarse fits sentences such as Me adapto a los cambios de la empresa, while acostumbrarse belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
  4. Wrong: Yo soy adaptado al clima del norte. — Right: Yo he adaptado al clima del norte. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he adaptado, has adaptado, ha adaptado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
  5. Wrong: De niño, yo adapté a la vida en la ciudad todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo adaptaba a la vida en la ciudad todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (adaptaba), not the preterite. The preterite (adapté) is for one finished action.

Quiz: test yourself

Ten questions on adaptarse. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ a los cambios de la empresa. (present tense) A. me adapto B. te adaptas C. se adapta D. nos adaptamos

  2. Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ al clima del norte. (preterite) A. me adapté B. te adaptaste C. se adaptaron D. se adaptó

  3. Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ a la vida en la ciudad. (imperfect) A. te adaptabas B. se adaptaban C. nos adaptábamos D. me adaptaba

  4. Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ a las normas del colegio. (future) A. nos adaptaremos B. te adaptarás C. me adaptaré D. se adaptará

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ a los cambios de la empresa si pudiera. (conditional) A. me adaptaría B. te adaptarías C. se adaptaría D. se adaptarían

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ al clima del norte. (present subjunctive) A. me adapte B. te adaptes C. nos adaptemos D. se adapte

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ a la vida en la ciudad, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. se adaptara B. nos adaptáramos C. me adaptara D. te adaptaras

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ a las normas del colegio. (present perfect) A. se han adaptado B. nos hemos adaptado C. me he adaptado D. te has adaptado

  9. Complete the command: No ___ a los cambios de la empresa. (negative imperative, tú) A. te adaptes B. se adapte C. nos adaptemos D. os adaptéis

  10. Which is the gerund of adaptarse, used with estar for the progressive? A. adaptado B. adapto C. adapté D. adaptando

Answer key

  1. me adapto — The first-person present of adaptarse is me adapto. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
  2. se adaptó — The third-person preterite of adaptarse is se adaptó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
  3. nos adaptábamos — The nosotros imperfect of adaptarse is nos adaptábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
  4. te adaptarás — The second-person future of adaptarse is te adaptarás.
  5. me adaptaría — The first-person conditional of adaptarse is me adaptaría, the form for what would happen.
  6. se adapte — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of adaptarse is se adapte.
  7. me adaptara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of adaptarse is me adaptara.
  8. nos hemos adaptado — The nosotros present perfect of adaptarse is nos hemos adaptado: hemos + adaptado.
  9. te adaptes — The negative tú imperative uses the present subjunctive form with no before it: te adaptes.
  10. adaptando — The gerund of adaptarse is adaptando: estoy adaptando. The participle adaptado is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does adaptarse mean in English?

Adaptarse means to adapt. It is used in everyday situations such as Me adapto a los cambios de la empresa. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is adaptarse a reflexive verb?

Yes. Adaptarse is reflexive, so it always takes a reflexive pronoun that matches the person: me, te, se, nos, os or se. For example, Me adapto a los cambios de la empresa and él se adapta al clima del norte. If you leave the pronoun out, the verb changes meaning or stops making sense.

What is the difference between adaptarse and acostumbrarse?

Adaptarse means to adapt, while acostumbrarse means to get used to. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use adaptarse when you mean to adapt, as in Me adapto a los cambios de la empresa, and use acostumbrarse for to get used to. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.

How do I say “I adapt” in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo me adapté al clima del norte. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo me adaptaba a la vida en la ciudad. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo me he adaptado al clima del norte.

How do I practise adaptarse?

Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the adaptarse examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.

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