Thread: The myriad words for "to use"

I just use the word «использовать» all the time, it may not sound the most native in some situations, but I've never been caught out by someone telling me it's the wrong word to use.

What I don't understand is the difference between, for instance, «я использую» (present imperfective) and «я использую» (future perfective). If it's the same word, how can you tell the difference?

Originally Posted by Demonic_Duck

What I don't understand is the difference between, for instance, «я использую» (present imperfective) and «я использую» (future perfective). If it's the same word, how can you tell the difference?

Only common sense or, failing that, context can help.

The same trouble with the past.
"Он использовал её в своих собственных интересах."
There is no way of telling whether he was doing it for a period of time or it was just one occurrence.