diff --git a/lib/src/experimental/LiftEng.gf b/lib/src/experimental/LiftEng.gf
index 95442c95a..5e5d09576 100644
--- a/lib/src/experimental/LiftEng.gf
+++ b/lib/src/experimental/LiftEng.gf
@@ -7,7 +7,11 @@ concrete LiftEng of Lift =
 --flags literal=Symb ;
 
 oper
-  liftV : ResEng.Verb -> Pr.PrV = \v -> lin PrV {s = v.s ; p = v.p ; c1,c2 = [] ; isSubjectControl = True ; vtype = VTAct ; vvtype = VVInf} ;
+  liftV : ResEng.Verb -> Pr.PrV = \v -> lin PrV {
+    s = table {VVF f => v.s ! f ; VVPresNeg | VVPastNeg => v.s ! VInf} ;  ---- only used for Aux  
+    p = v.p ; 
+    c1,c2 = [] ; isSubjectControl = True ; vtype = VTAct ; vvtype = VVInf
+    } ;
 
 lin
   LiftV  v = liftV v ;
@@ -16,8 +20,8 @@ lin
   LiftVQ v = liftV v ;
   LiftVA v = liftV v ; ---- c1?
   LiftVN v = liftV v ; ---- c1?
-  LiftVV v = {s = \\f => v.s ! VVF f ; p = v.p ; c1,c2 = [] ; isSubjectControl = True ; 
-              vtype = case v.typ of {VAux => VTAux ; _ => VTAct} ; vvtype = v.typ} ; ---- c1? ---- VVF
+  LiftVV v = {s = v.s ; p = v.p ; c1,c2 = [] ; isSubjectControl = True ; 
+              vtype = case v.typ of {VVAux => VTAux ; _ => VTAct} ; vvtype = v.typ} ; ---- c1? ---- VVF
 
   LiftV3  v = liftV v ** {c1 = v.c2 ; c2 = v.c3} ;
   LiftV2S v = liftV v ** {c1 = v.c2} ;
diff --git a/lib/src/experimental/PredChi.gf b/lib/src/experimental/PredChi.gf
index 7a24bdc03..bf3a4b115 100644
--- a/lib/src/experimental/PredChi.gf
+++ b/lib/src/experimental/PredChi.gf
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ lin
         obj1 = vp.part ++ strComplCase vp.c1 ++ vp.obj1.p1 ! rpa ;  ---- apply complCase ---- place of part depends on obj
         obj2 = strComplCase vp.c2 ++ vp.obj2.p1 ! (case vp.obj2.p2 of {True => rpa ; False => vp.obj1.p2}) ;   ---- apply complCase
         c3   = noComplCase ;      -- for one more prep to build ClSlash 
-        qforms = qformsVP vp (agr2vagr rpa) ; 
         }
     in {s = declCl cl ; c = subjCase} ;
 
@@ -47,7 +46,6 @@ lin
     obj1 = vp.part ++ strComplCase vp.c1 ++ vp.obj1.p1 ! npa ;  ---- apply complCase ---- place of part depends on obj
     obj2 = strComplCase vp.c2 ++ vp.obj2.p1 ! npa ;
     c3   = vp.c1 ; -- in case there is any free slot left ---- could be c2 
-    qforms = qformsVP vp (agr2vagr npa) ; 
     } ;
 
   StartVPC x c v w = {  ---- some loss of quality seems inevitable
@@ -112,7 +110,6 @@ lin
     adv  = vp.adv ;
     adV  = vp.adV ;
     ext  = vp.ext ; 
-    qforms = qformsVP vp (ipagr2vagr UUnit) ;
     } ;
 
   QuestSlash x ip cl = 
diff --git a/lib/src/experimental/PredFin.gf b/lib/src/experimental/PredFin.gf
index db44a60cf..116ad169b 100644
--- a/lib/src/experimental/PredFin.gf
+++ b/lib/src/experimental/PredFin.gf
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ concrete PredFin of Pred =
 -- overridden
        ,UseV
        ,UseAP
+       ,UseNP
        ,UseCN
        ,QuestVP
        ,PredVP
@@ -36,6 +37,10 @@ lin
     adj = \\a => ap.s ! agr2aagr a ;
     } ;
 
+  UseNP a t p np = useCopula a t p ** {
+    adj = \\a => np.s ! subjCase ;
+    } ;
+
   UseCN x a t p cn = useCopula a t p ** {
     c1  = cn.c1 ;
     c2  = cn.c2 ;
diff --git a/lib/src/experimental/PredInstanceChi.gf b/lib/src/experimental/PredInstanceChi.gf
index db7f6a215..a40af332d 100644
--- a/lib/src/experimental/PredInstanceChi.gf
+++ b/lib/src/experimental/PredInstanceChi.gf
@@ -114,9 +114,6 @@ oper
   impVP : Number -> PrVerbPhrase -> Str = \n,vp ->
     infVP UUnit UUnit vp ;
 
-  qformsV : Str -> STense -> Anteriority -> Polarity -> VAgr -> PrVerb -> Str * Str = 
-    \sta,t,a,p,agr,v -> <[],[]> ; ----- not needed in Chinese
- 
 
   declCl       : PrClause -> Str = \cl -> cl.subj ++ cl.v.p1 ++ cl.adV ++ cl.adv ++ cl.v.p2 ++ restCl cl ;
   declSubordCl : PrClause -> Str = declCl ;
diff --git a/lib/src/experimental/PredInstanceEng.gf b/lib/src/experimental/PredInstanceEng.gf
index 32d9db8cd..2ab117137 100644
--- a/lib/src/experimental/PredInstanceEng.gf
+++ b/lib/src/experimental/PredInstanceEng.gf
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ oper
   Agr    = ResEng.Agr ;
   Case   = ResEng.Case ;
   NPCase = ResEng.NPCase ;
-  VForm  = ResEng.VForm ;  ---- VVForm to get contracted aux verbs
+  VForm  = ResEng.VVForm ;  ---- VVForm to get contracted aux verbs
   VVType = ResEng.VVType ; 
   SVoice = Voice ;
   
@@ -138,8 +138,8 @@ oper
     VAPl   => AgP3Pl
     } ;
 
-  vPastPart : PrVerb -> AAgr -> Str = \v,_ -> v.s ! VPPart ;
-  vPresPart : PrVerb -> AAgr -> Str = \v,_ -> v.s ! VPresPart ;
+  vPastPart : PrVerb -> AAgr -> Str = \v,_ -> v.s ! VVF VPPart ;
+  vPresPart : PrVerb -> AAgr -> Str = \v,_ -> v.s ! VVF VPresPart ;
 
   vvInfinitive : VVType = VVInf ;
 
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ oper
       -} ;
 
   tenseActV : Str -> STense -> Anteriority -> Polarity -> VAgr -> PrVerb -> Str * Str * Str = \sta,t,a,p,agr,v -> 
-    let vt : VForm = case <t,agr> of {
+    let vt : ResEng.VForm = case <t,agr> of {
         <Pres,VASgP3>  => VPres ; 
         <Past|Cond,_ > => VPast ; 
         _              => VInf
@@ -215,55 +215,58 @@ oper
     <Pres|Past, Simul> =>
       case v.vtype of {
         VTAux  => case t of {
-          Pres         => <sta ++ v.s ! VPres,   [],                              []> ;  -- can I/she/we
-          _            => <sta ++ v.s ! vt,      [],                              []>    -- could ...
+          Pres         => <sta ++ v.s ! VVF VPres,   not_Str p,                   []> ;  -- can I/she/we
+          _            => <sta ++ v.s ! VVF vt,      not_Str p,                   []>    -- could ...
           } ;
         _              => case p of {
-          Pos          => <[],                   sta ++ v.s ! vt,                 []> ;                 -- this is the deviating case
-          Neg          => <do_Aux       vt Pos,  not_Str p,                       sta ++ v.s ! VInf>
+          Pos          => <[],                   sta ++ v.s ! VVF vt,             []> ;                 -- this is the deviating case
+          Neg          => <do_Aux       vt Pos,  not_Str p,                       sta ++ v.s ! VVF VInf>
           }
        } ;
 
-    <Pres|Past, Anter> => <have_Aux     vt Pos,  not_Str p,                       sta ++ v.s ! VPPart> ;
-    <Fut|Cond,  Simul> => <will_Aux     vt Pos,  not_Str p,                       sta ++ v.s ! VInf> ;
-    <Fut|Cond,  Anter> => <will_Aux     vt Pos,  not_Str p ++ have_Aux VInf Pos,  sta ++ v.s ! VPPart>
+    <Pres|Past, Anter> => <have_Aux     vt Pos,  not_Str p,                       sta ++ v.s ! VVF VPPart> ;
+    <Fut|Cond,  Simul> => <will_Aux     vt Pos,  not_Str p,                       sta ++ v.s ! VVF VInf> ;
+    <Fut|Cond,  Anter> => <will_Aux     vt Pos,  not_Str p ++ have_Aux VInf Pos,  sta ++ v.s ! VVF VPPart>
     } ;
 
   tenseActVContracted : Str -> STense -> Anteriority -> Polarity -> VAgr -> PrVerb -> Str * Str * Str = \sta,t,a,p,agr,v -> 
-    let vt : VForm = case <t,agr> of {
-        <Pres,VASgP3>  => VPres ; 
-        <Past|Cond,_ > => VPast ; 
-        _              => VInf
+    let vt : ResEng.VForm * VVForm = case <t,agr> of {
+        <Pres,VASgP3>  => <VPres, VVPresNeg> ; 
+        <Past|Cond,_ > => <VPast, VVPastNeg> ; 
+        _              => <VInf,  VVF VInf>
         } ; 
     in 
 
     case <t,a> of {  
     <Pres|Past, Simul> =>
       case v.vtype of {
-        VTAux          => <sta ++ v.s ! vt,      [],                              []> ;
-        _              => case p of {
-          Pos          => <[],                   sta ++ v.s ! vt,                 []> ;                 -- this is the deviating case
-          Neg          => <do_Aux       vt p,    [],                              sta ++ v.s ! VInf>
+        VTAux  => case p of {
+          Pos          => <sta ++ v.s ! VVF vt.p1,  [],                              []> ;
+          Neg          => <sta ++ v.s ! vt.p2,      [],                              []>
+          } ;
+        _ => case p of {
+          Pos          => <[],                     sta ++ v.s ! VVF vt.p1,           []> ;                 -- this is the deviating case
+          Neg          => <do_Aux       vt.p1 p,    [],                              sta ++ v.s ! VVF VInf>
           }
        } ;
-    <Pres|Past, Anter> => <have_AuxC    vt p,    [],                              sta ++ v.s ! VPPart>
-                        | <have_AuxC    vt Pos,  not_Str p,                       sta ++ v.s ! VPPart> ; 
-    <Fut|Cond,  Simul> => <will_AuxC    vt p,    [],                              sta ++ v.s ! VInf>
-                        | <will_AuxC    vt Pos,  not_Str p,                       sta ++ v.s ! VInf> ; 
-    <Fut|Cond,  Anter> => <will_AuxC    vt p,    have_Aux VInf Pos,               sta ++ v.s ! VPPart>
-                        | <will_AuxC    vt Pos,  not_Str p ++ have_Aux VInf Pos,  sta ++ v.s ! VPPart> 
+    <Pres|Past, Anter> => <have_AuxC    vt.p1 p,    [],                              sta ++ v.s ! VVF VPPart>
+                        | <have_AuxC    vt.p1 Pos,  not_Str p,                       sta ++ v.s ! VVF VPPart> ; 
+    <Fut|Cond,  Simul> => <will_AuxC    vt.p1 p,    [],                              sta ++ v.s ! VVF VInf>
+                        | <will_AuxC    vt.p1 Pos,  not_Str p,                       sta ++ v.s ! VVF VInf> ; 
+    <Fut|Cond,  Anter> => <will_AuxC    vt.p1 p,    have_Aux VInf Pos,               sta ++ v.s ! VVF VPPart>
+                        | <will_AuxC    vt.p1 Pos,  not_Str p ++ have_Aux VInf Pos,  sta ++ v.s ! VVF VPPart> 
     } ;
 
   tensePassV : Str -> STense -> Anteriority -> Polarity -> VAgr -> PrVerb -> Str * Str * Str = \sta,t,a,p,agr,v -> 
     let 
       be   = be_AuxL sta t a p agr ;
-      done = v.s ! VPPart
+      done = v.s ! VVF VPPart
     in 
     <be.p1, be.p2, be.p3 ++ done> ;
   tensePassVContracted : Str -> STense -> Anteriority -> Polarity -> VAgr -> PrVerb -> Str * Str * Str = \sta,t,a,p,agr,v -> 
     let 
       be   = be_AuxC sta t a p agr ;
-      done = v.s ! VPPart
+      done = v.s ! VVF VPPart
     in 
     <be.p1, be.p2, be.p3 ++ done> ;
 
@@ -274,25 +277,25 @@ oper
     case vt of {
       VVInf => 
         case a of {
-          Simul => not ++ "to" ++                      sa ++ v.s ! VInf ;       -- (she wants) (not) to sleep
-          Anter => not ++ "to" ++ have_Aux VInf Pos ++ sa ++ v.s ! VPPart       -- (she wants) (not) to have slept
+          Simul => not ++ "to" ++                      sa ++ v.s ! VVF VInf ;       -- (she wants) (not) to sleep
+          Anter => not ++ "to" ++ have_Aux VInf Pos ++ sa ++ v.s ! VVF VPPart       -- (she wants) (not) to have slept
           } ;
       VVAux =>
         case a of {
-          Simul => not ++                              sa ++ v.s ! VInf ;       -- (she must) (not) sleep
-          Anter => not ++         have_Aux VInf Pos ++ sa ++ v.s ! VPPart       -- (she must) (not) have slept
+          Simul => not ++                              sa ++ v.s ! VVF VInf ;       -- (she must) (not) sleep
+          Anter => not ++         have_Aux VInf Pos ++ sa ++ v.s ! VVF VPPart       -- (she must) (not) have slept
           } ;
      VVPresPart =>
         case a of {
-          Simul => not ++                              sa ++ v.s ! VPresPart ;  -- (she starts) (not) sleeping
-          Anter => not ++         "having"          ++ sa ++ v.s ! VPPart       -- (she starts) (not) having slept
+          Simul => not ++                              sa ++ v.s ! VVF VPresPart ;  -- (she starts) (not) sleeping
+          Anter => not ++         "having"          ++ sa ++ v.s ! VVF VPPart       -- (she starts) (not) having slept
           }
      } ;
 
   imperativeV : Str -> Polarity -> ImpType -> PrVerb -> Str = \s,p,it,v -> 
     s ++ case p of {
-      Pos => v.s ! VInf ;
-      Neg => ("do not" | "don't") ++ v.s ! VInf
+      Pos => v.s ! VVF VInf ;
+      Neg => ("do not" | "don't") ++ v.s ! VVF VInf
       } ;
 
 
@@ -373,11 +376,13 @@ oper
 oper
   be_V : PrVerb = {
     s = table {
-      VInf => "be" ;
-      VPres => "is" ;
-      VPast => "was" ;
-      VPPart => "been" ;
-      VPresPart => "being"
+      VVF VInf => "be" ;
+      VVF VPres => "is" ;
+      VVF VPast => "was" ;
+      VVF VPPart => "been" ;
+      VVF VPresPart => "being" ;
+      VVPresNeg => "isn't" ;
+      VVPastNeg => "wasn't"
       } ;
     p,c1,c2 = [] ; vtype = VTAux ; vvtype = VVInf ; isSubjectControl = False
     } ;
@@ -389,20 +394,20 @@ oper
 
 oper
 ---- have to split the tables to two to get reasonable PMCFG generation
-  will_Aux : VForm -> Polarity -> Str = \vf,p -> case <vf,p> of {
+  will_Aux : ResEng.VForm -> Polarity -> Str = \vf,p -> case <vf,p> of {
     <VInf|VPres, Pos> => varAux "will" "ll" ;
     <VInf|VPres, Neg> => "won't" ;
     <VPast|_   , Pos> => varAux "would" "d" ; 
     <VPast|_   , Neg> => "wouldn't"
     } ; 
-  will_AuxC : VForm -> Polarity -> Str = \vf,p -> case <vf,p> of {
+  will_AuxC : ResEng.VForm -> Polarity -> Str = \vf,p -> case <vf,p> of {
     <VInf|VPres, Pos> => varAuxC "will" "ll" ;
     <VInf|VPres, Neg> => "won't" ;
     <VPast|_   , Pos> => varAuxC "would" "d" ; 
     <VPast|_   , Neg> => "wouldn't"
     } ; 
 
-  have_Aux : VForm -> Polarity -> Str = \vf,p -> case <vf,p> of {
+  have_Aux : ResEng.VForm -> Polarity -> Str = \vf,p -> case <vf,p> of {
     <VInf,     Pos> => varAux "have" "ve" ;  --- slightly overgenerating if used in infinitive
     <VInf,     Neg> => "haven't" ;
     <VPres,    Pos> => varAux "has" "s" ;
@@ -410,7 +415,7 @@ oper
     <VPast|_ , Pos> => varAux "had" "d" ; 
     <VPast|_ , Neg> => "hadn't"
     } ; 
-  have_AuxC : VForm -> Polarity -> Str = \vf,p -> case <vf,p> of {
+  have_AuxC : ResEng.VForm -> Polarity -> Str = \vf,p -> case <vf,p> of {
     <VInf,     Pos> => varAuxC "have" "ve" ;  --- slightly overgenerating if used in infinitive
     <VInf,     Neg> => "haven't" ;
     <VPres,    Pos> => varAuxC "has" "s" ;
@@ -419,7 +424,7 @@ oper
     <VPast|_ , Neg> => "hadn't"
     } ; 
 
-  do_Aux : VForm -> Polarity -> Str = \vf,p -> case <vf,p> of {
+  do_Aux : ResEng.VForm -> Polarity -> Str = \vf,p -> case <vf,p> of {
     <VInf,     Pos> => "do" ;
     <VInf,     Neg> => "don't" ;
     <VPres,    Pos> => "does" ;
diff --git a/lib/src/experimental/PredInstanceFin.gf b/lib/src/experimental/PredInstanceFin.gf
index 031b032f4..d9ce9538c 100644
--- a/lib/src/experimental/PredInstanceFin.gf
+++ b/lib/src/experimental/PredInstanceFin.gf
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ instance PredInstanceFin of
     NounPhrase, 
     PrVerb, initPrVerb,
     PrVerbPhrase, initPrVerbPhrase, initPrVerbPhraseV, useCopula, linrefPrVP, qformsVP, applyVerb, addObj2VP,
+    initBasePrVerbPhrase, initBasePrVerbPhraseV, 
     PrClause, initPrClause
   ] = 
       open ResFin, (P = ParadigmsFin), (S = StemFin), (X = ParamX), Prelude in {