adoptábamos

Adoptábamos is a verb form in the Spanish language. It is the first-person plural imperfect indicative of the verb "adoptar," which means "to adopt." This verb tense, the imperfect indicative, is used to describe ongoing or habitual actions in the past, or to set the scene for a past event. Therefore, "adoptábamos" translates to "we were adopting" or "we used to adopt."

The imperfect tense in Spanish is distinct from the preterite tense, which describes completed actions in the past. "Adoptábamos" would be used in sentences such as "Cuando éramos niños, adoptábamos muchos perros del refugio" (When we were children, we used to adopt many dogs from the shelter) or "Nosotros adoptábamos un nuevo enfoque para la resolución de problemas" (We were adopting a new approach to problem-solving). The context of the sentence determines the precise nuance of the imperfect. It conveys a sense of continuity or a description of a past state rather than a single, finished event. Understanding the imperfect tense is crucial for comprehending the flow of narrative and describing past realities in Spanish.