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adapt   —   adopt   —   adept

“Adapt” means ‘to make fit or to alter (something) according to the suitability of something new’ — a machine, tool, or a book/story may be adapted.

e.g.

The foreign visitors find it difficult to adapt themselves to our hot climate.

“Adopt” means (a) ‘to take somebody’s child (or an orphan) into one’s family as a relation for ever’, (b) ‘to take up and follow an idea, a plan, or a custom as one’s own’,

e.g.

Our neighbour has adopted an orphan as he has no children of his own.

English social customs have been adopted by people all over the world.

“Adept” means ‘an expert; a highly skilled person’,

e.g.

My uncle is an adept photographer.

1. One can adopt someone else’s child, plan, custom or idea, but must adapt oneself.

2.  It is possible to adapt a plan or to adopt a plan.  When you adapt a plan you change or alter it to suit your needs, but when you adopt a plan you take or follow it as it is, without any changes.

Common Errors:

He adopted a false name.  [wrong]

He assumed a false name. [right]

‘To adopt’, as mentioned earlier, is to take or accept something or someone as one’s own; it cannot be used to mean to pretend, put on, or take for granted.  The right word for such expressions is “assume”.

 

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