Официант подаст нам чай после ужина.

the dinner

Breakdown of Официант подаст нам чай после ужина.

• чай: the tea
• после: after
• официант: the waiter

Questions & Answers about Официант подаст нам чай после ужина.

Why is подаст used here? Is it present or future?

Подаст is future here.

It comes from the verb подать, which is a perfective verb. In Russian, perfective verbs do not normally have a true present tense. Their present-looking forms are used with future meaning.

So:

• подать = perfective, to serve / hand / give as a completed action
• подаст = he/she will serve

This fits the sentence because it describes one completed action in the future: the waiter will serve the tea after dinner.

Compare:

• официант подаёт чай = the waiter serves / is serving tea
  
  • from подавать (imperfective)
• официант подаст чай = the waiter will serve tea
  
  • from подать (perfective)

Why is it нам, not мы or нас?