успевать vs успеть

uspevat vs uspet — manage/have time habitually vs manage in time once

What it really means

Успевать is imperfective for regularly having enough time, keeping up, or managing in progress. Успеть is perfective for managing to do something before a deadline on one occasion. Both can take an infinitive: успеть сделать.

Успеть is about being in time, not necessarily doing something well.

Examples in natural speech

Я не успеваю завтракать.
I do not have time to eat breakfast.
Она всегда всё успевает.
She always manages to get everything done.
Успеем на автобус?
Will we make the bus?
Я успел закончить работу.
I managed to finish the work in time.
Не успейте — звоните.
If you do not make it in time, call.

Common mistakes

Do not confuse успеть with “be successful” in general. It specifically means manage before time runs out. “Я не успел” often means “I did not get there/do it in time.”

Memory tip

Успеть answers the deadline question: did you make it in time?

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between успевать and успеть?

Успевать is ongoing or habitual managing in time; успеть is managing once before a deadline.

How do you say I do not have time?

Say “Я не успеваю” when you mean you are not managing to fit things in.

Can успеть take an infinitive?

Yes: успеть сделать, успеть позвонить, успеть прийти.

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