Only imperfective verbs are used in the present tense: perfective verbs are never used to refer to the present. The present tense-form of the perfective verbs refer to the future. Compare:
| Imperfective | Perfective |
| Делать Я делаю – Present tense (I do; I’m doing) |
Сделать Я сделаю – Future tense (I’ll do) |
| Опаздывать Я опаздываю – Present tense (I’m behind schedule) |
Опоздать Я опоздаю – Future tense (I’ll be late) |
Imperfective verbs, however, can be used to refer to the future similar to how Present Simple or Present Continuous are used to represent a plan for the future:
Завтра мы едем (imp.) в Москву. – We are going to Moscow tomorrow.
Learn more:
What are perfective and imperfective verbs?
Perfective/imperfective pairs
Past tense
Future tense
Infinitives
Imperative