It should be easy for students to find "be" verbs in a sentence, even 
if they don't know they are forms of "be". Tell them to put a 
contracted negative "-n't" in the sentence. If there is a form of "be" 
in the sentence, that's what they'll attach it to.

It's true, isn't it, that the negative marker always attaches to the 
finite element of the verb phrase? Since the contracted negative marker 
attaches directly to the finite element, it is very useful, even if not 
preferred in formal writing. It's just a device for finding things.

As to figuring out whether and which tense the form is marked for, ask 
students to put a time adverb in the sentence: "now", "then". "Now" 
will usually indicate present and "then" past.

Does anyone on this list actually try this stuff?

Dr. Johanna Rubba, Associate Professor, Linguistics
Linguistics Minor Advisor
English Department
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Tel.: 805.756.2184
Dept. Ofc. Tel.: 805.756.2596
Dept. Fax: 805.756.6374
URL: http://www.cla.calpoly.edu/~jrubba

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