When was the last time "I has been eating the graves" came out of the mouth of a long-time native English speaker? It's probably been a while since this has happened. Why? English has a myriad of verb tenses, and many of them can be quite complex given their subtle differences or the irregular nature of the verb itself. So why do English speakers need all these verb forms? Does it even make that much of a difference? Why can't “they ate my grapes” be culturally accepted as a normal way to express previous consumption of these delicious fruits of the vine? “Just because it is that way” is not a satisfactory answer. The subtleties of verb tense go beyond the initial structure of the verb phrase, influencing not only the temporal aspects of the verb string, but also the overall mood and message of the sentence as a whole. Just as most would recognize that, "I have been eaten grapes," is incorrect, the differences between "I have eaten grapes" and "I have eaten grapes" are obvious. People may not be able to pinpoint what exactly these differences mean, but most would agree that the two statements are different. The nuance lies in the difference between the present perfect and the present perfect progressive. The first sentence could imply that the grapes were eaten and that the action ended at an indeterminate time in the past, making it the present perfect (Uchiyama). The Present Perfect Progressive differs in that the action of eating the grapes began in the past and has continued up to this point (Uchiyama). These differences are crucial in defining the differences between the different forms of the present tense, be it simple, p...... middle of paper ......s, allowing all the necessary clarifications. It is because of these multiple forms and uses of verbs that sentences like "They ate my grapes" don't make sense. There are enough tenses and supporting modals available that these random pairings of tenses are simply useless. While these verbal nuances may be difficult for non-native speakers to grasp at first, once fully developed, they allow for greater expression, clarity, and uniformity in speech. Works Cited Kolln, Martha and Robert Funk. Understanding English grammar. 9th edition. Boston: Pearson, 2012. Teaching and Learning Center. "Verb tense." University of Oregon. 26 3 2014.The Writing Center, Center for Teaching and Learning. "Consistency in the use of verbs". University of Toronto Scarborough. 26 3 2014.Uchiyama, Kent. "English verb tenses". 2006. Chabot College. 26 3 2014.