ASL Grammar Basic but

Supersized

Before we Begin

OASL always gets rid of the stuff we don’t need: and, it, etc.

TopicO Subject/Object is also known in ASL

at the TopicO This comes first in the sentence and

if there are two, decide which is most important to you in regards to getting your message across

O Think of a picture, which topic/subject/object pops out at you

Drawing a Picture Step 1

OFirst: you draw the most important thing/object/subject, which is often the noun in a sentence.

OFor example a Topic – Dog

Comment/Relevant information

O After the topic/subject/object you add the relevant information about it

O Relevant information is known as the comment

O Comment/Relevant information can be: O Size O Color O Collar O Tail

Drawing a picture step 2

OTop/Sub/Object – Dog OComment Relevant Information – Big Black

EnvironmentONext you set up the

environmentOYou must set it up

realistically to match your topic and the action that comes later

Drawing a picture Step 3

OTopic/Subject/Object – Dog

OComment/Relevant Information – Black Big

OEnvironment – Grass Outside

ActionOAction is also known as the

Verb OThis comes after everything is

set up O Introduce the topic, describe

the topic, and then indicate what the top/sub/obj is doing

Drawing a picture Step 4

O Top/Sub/Obj – Dog O Comment/relevant information –

Black Big O Environment – Grass Outside O Action – Me See (the sign SEE

coming from the SIGNER towards the signer’s dominant side means they are talking about someone, not something) Play

Time indicators or Tense Markers

O Past – Always goes at the beginning O Future – Can go at the beginning or after

the subject object but before the action O Present – Is not necessary, because we

live in the present. If you want to put the word Today in the front of a sentence you can to make sure there is no confusion.

O EX: Today school me go not

Time indicators Cont.O If you have the actual time not just a

tense marker you must always put it first.

O Noon today dog black big grass outside me see play.

Drawing a picture Step 4

O Time Indicator - YesterdayO Top/Sub/Obj – Dog O Comment/relevant information –

Black Big O Environment – Grass Outside O Action – Me See Play

NegationOIn English we say Don’t understand

OASL the action comes first and then we negate it OUnderstand Not

Drawing a Picture Step 5

O Time Indicator - YesterdayO Top/Sub/Obj – Dog O Comment/relevant information –

Black Big O Environment – Grass Outside O Action – Me See Play O Negation - Not

NOTE!!!!O Everyone has a different perspective

and a different interpretation. O Just follow the format and you should

be fine in ASL. O Just as with English, messages are

conveyed differently.

Practice O Take out a piece of paper O Write your name, the hour, and the dateO I am going to show you several numbered

English Sentences. I want you to number them and write them down in ASL Gloss

O Use the Rules I just mentioned. O I will be collecting these and I will be

grading them. O Try your best

Ready, Set, Go1. The little girl and boy go to school

every weekend. 2. Later today our team goes out to

eat and drink. 3. The girl is coming to my house

tonight to eat chicken. 4. The people here didn’t understand

the lesson.

Continued5. There is no communication

in my family. 6. The performance

concluded at 7:30 pm.7. I am studying for final

exams next week.