When was the last time “my grapes were eaten” came out of the mouth of a long-time English speaker? It's probably been a while since this happened. Why then? English has a plethora of verb tenses, and many of them can be quite complex due to either their subtle differences or the irregular nature of the verb itself. So why do English speakers need all these verb forms? Does it really make a big difference? Why can't "I ate the grapes" just be culturally accepted as a normal way of expressing earlier eating these succulent fruits of the vine? “Just because that’s the way it is” is not a satisfactory answer. The intricacies of verb tense extend beyond the initial structure of the verb phrase, affecting not only the temporal aspects of the verb string, but also the mood and overall message of the sentence as a whole. Just as most would recognize that "I ate grapes" is incorrect, the differences between "I ate grapes" and "I ate grapes" are noticeable. People may not be able to pinpoint exactly what 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 the action ended at some unspecified time in the past, making it present perfect (Uchiyama). The present perfect progressive is differentiated in that the action of eating grapes began in the past and continued up to this point (Uchiyama). These differences are crucial in defining the differences between different forms of the present tense, whether simple, p...... middle of paper ......s, allows for as much clarification as necessary. It's because of these many forms and uses of verbs that sentences like "I ate the grapes" simply don't make sense. There are enough verb tenses and supporting modals available that these random pairs of tenses are simply unnecessary. Although these verbal nuances may be difficult for non-native speakers to understand at first, once fully developed they allow for greater expression, clarity, and uniformity of speech. Works Cited Kolln, Martha and Robert Funk. Understand English grammar. 9th edition. Boston: Pearson, 2012. Center for Teaching and Learning. “Tense of the verb”. 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.