Quote Originally Posted by Valda View Post
The word подойти is future. "I will approach/he will approach/they will approach/.... etc etc

Now, we also got "подходить" - which means the same thing, but in present form!

Both of those verbs have past forms. What's the difference between the past form of подойти and the past form of подходить then?
Подойти is not future, it is an infinitive. The future form will be подойду (я подойду, он подойдет...). It means I will approach (or maybe come to your place, come to see you) and I am certain about it. Я подойду завтра - you promise to come. While the future form of подходить is буду подходить, it means the process. It can be used, for example "Когда я буду подходить к дому, я позвоню" - "When approaching the house, I will call you"

In present it is "подхожу" - I am approaching, I am coming
Past form will be "подошёл" (have come) or " подходил" (when we came the train was approaching the station - когда мы пришли, поезд уже подходил (it hasn't stopped yet)