ASL Sentence Structure Explained | American Sign Language for Beginners

[@LearnHowtoSign]

The first 1,000 people to use this link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare: skl.sh/learnhowtosign09211

[@signlanguagegenius66]

I am having trouble with sleeping in (ASL). Also, how would you ask a hard-of-hearing person if they want you to sign or talk? Keep on posting!

[@signlanguagegenius66]

And I am having trouble with telling time in ASL.

[@panikcatlady4489]

@@signlanguagegenius66 she has a video on time on her channel

[@signlanguagegenius66]

@@panikcatlady4489 Thank you. I will check it out

[@wisejojohumphrey3475]

I just found your videos! Thanks for posting. One thing that I really wish could be changed are the ads. I want to use your videos with the class that I interpret in. I can’t do that without monitoring closely, because one ad that keeps coming up in some of your videos is a scene with a girl seducing her friend’s fiancé the night before his wedding, while his fiancé is watching! It’s vulgar and explicit. Why do they have to put that kind of add on videos that children may watch? Disgusting!

[@MicheleoTuTo]

This was very helpful, because there are a lot of videos online about ASL vocabulary but not that much about grammar and syntax, thanks!

[@LearnHowtoSign]

You're very welcome!

[@rnbsteenstar]

On top of this, we've got three more sign languages here in the US including two forms of signed English.

[@DanaKayBrenner]

This is probably the most challenging part of learning ASL. Thank you for breaking it down!

[@sshelget]

I agree. I know a LOT of words, but trying to figure out how to sign things in ASL is extremely difficult for me.

[@Sugey2509]

I agree 100%

[@shaygashler1586]

Can we please get more videos on ASL syntax and sentence structure. I also really enjoy your quizzes at the end of your videos as it helps me retain what I'm learning. Thank you!

[@shaygashler1586]

When I ask for more videos I am most interested in topic/comment structure. I'm still struggling with the difference between the topic and the comment.

[@sunny_capriccio564]

@@shaygashler1586 I'm probably not able to help you personally, but I can say this grammar point came to me easily with my background in studying Japanese. There are many entry-level videos that go over the topic/subject marker sentence structure in Japanese that might be able to explain this grammar point, albeit in a different context. It's been 6 months, so maybe you've already figured this out, but in case you haven't, I recommend looking up vids about the は particle :-)!

[@JubbysDragons]

​@@shaygashler1586 yes my issue too. I thought sleep would be the topic and on the weekends/time would be the comment about it. So I don't think I can learn and I'm so sad

[@halliehasslinger9663]

This video is much needed and appreciated! ASL is definitely different than English grammar. The only thing I noticed was there was no English translation to the sentence structure review "test" at the end. I think it would be great to include this (even just in CC) so viewers can see if they understood the sentences correctly. Thank you for sharing!

[@LearnHowtoSign]

Thanks for sharing! That's a good idea.

[@anmllvr19]

@@LearnHowtoSign yes please include the translation of the sentances, it would be a good test of my understanding and brush up of certain signs, there were some signs that I recognized but couldn't remember exactly what they meant

[@amandarobar3074]

Yes, I would have liked that too. I struggled putting it together. It was a bit fast between each structure so not much time to process them.

[@mica4977]

I would also appreciate a translation at the end or even within the description. Have only watched 4 or 5 videos so far so while I understand the structure based on the signs I learned on this video there was a bunch of vocab I didn't know during the quiz.

[@Soprano375]

Please make more videos about sentence structure. You’ve helped to break it down, but it’s still confusing at times when figuring out what goes first.

[@donniefreuden1994]

I’m learning asl for my grandson who is deaf. I’m so excited to be able to communicate with him

[@UnravelingBasketCase]

Thank you for the videos. My 9 year old has been watching and learning how to sign and its nice to see him learning an important language on his own. Please keep up the good work and helping educate young minds like my son's.

[@mbtalks13]

I love the quiz, but because I am so new, I had trouble with all the new signs. It would be helpful to me if you would repeat the sentence itself so I could see why the answer is correct. Thanks. These lessons are awesome!!!

[@vivianartis-hough7690]

Definitely the hardest part of ASL, sentence structure. More videos like this please!!

[@darlenereid1199]

I have started learning ASL for about a month. I had learned a few words, and alphabet years and years ago. I've always had the desire but I'm doing something about it now at 66 years old. I absolutely need the grammar for ASL as English is stuck in my head. Thanks so much for all the free help. It is GREATLY appreciated!

[@Lacilove1991]

My whole life I’ve been infatuated with asl but for some reason in the last year I started following a lot of deaf performers and CODAS and it sparked my interest to learn asl again. I’ve been using your videos to help me. I know there is also lingvano a lot of the deaf promote to help learn asl. I would love to one day be able to interpret at a concert. I am a nurse and had a deaf patient and just the basic stuff I learned on here helped me communicate with him

[@ZoeAlexa11]

This is what my ASL class is working on right now. This was super helpful for me!

[@LearnHowtoSign]

So glad we can support your learning in your ASL class.

[@signlanguagegenius66]

@@LearnHowtoSign I am loving your videos. Every day I learn something new. Thank you for your support

[@emmawinningham8059]

Found your channel not long ago during my other ASL class! Love your work. More videos like this would be awesome!

[@LearnHowtoSign]

Thank you!

[@morbolis]

Yes please, more sentence structures. I need to learn more. Thanks so much

[@BaileySherman-qi7th]

I am very impressed in your teaching! This is probably my fourth video in a row because I am refreshing before my ASL 202 class starts this summer. I am so nervous because it has been very difficult to learn as an online class that relies on immersion so there is no talking in lectures. You explaining things in English as you teach.. let's just say I am eternally grateful!

[@samanthaallgood8179]

I am finding much joy and comfort in your videos it teaches me why things are the way they are in Asl. its very helpful in learning!

[@ElisabethBarraza-mm9nk]

I have been studying ASL for 3 months because I like it and I don't know if I'm going to need it later because of my grandson I love how Meredith teaches thank you God bless you.....

[@ki-janamoore195]

I've been binge watching your vids all week and looked up sentence structure online this morning because I was so confused. Great timing!

[@LearnHowtoSign]

How cool!!!

[@lusellahargrove9279]

I am so happy to find your KZbin site. I am a parent of 2 deaf daughters and struggle with ASL. I have already learned so much about structure and grammar. Please continue to make these videos. Thank you.

[@HaydenMacPhail]

skill problem

[@Dandydust397]

@@HaydenMacPhailthe phrase is *skill issue* and you sound miserable, you fucking donut

[@NiebieskaPaprotka]

Helpful as always! I've been practicing ASL less than usual but this was fun :)

[@LearnHowtoSign]

Glad it was helpful!

[@megannyirongo3295]

I love your videos! And this video was so helpful! I would love to see more about sentence structure! Also in the quiz questions, I would like to know what you said. I’m still learning so some of the signs I didn’t know. Keep sharing with us!

[@hamsteralliance]

Thanks for this lesson, I’m sure I’ll be back to watch it a few times. Any chance you could include full speed versions of the sentences you sign in future videos? The slow-mo is great but seeing everything at speed and how you’d really sign it would also be useful. Thanks again!

[@LearnHowtoSign]

That's a great idea. We'll look and see what we can do in future videos.

[@kayequinn6726]

Thanks,really appreciate this. Don't know why there aren't more videos teaching grammar & the importance of facial expressions.

[@LearnHowtoSign]

You're very welcome!

[@saydiebeth368]

Thanks Meredith! I've been curious to know how to word my sentences in ASL. I'm getting pretty good with the signs. My friends love learning as I teach them what I've memorized. Thanks so much! Can't wait until the next video!

[@LearnHowtoSign]

You're so welcome! It's awesome that you are teaching your friends!

[@taotravyuniversalist7747]

Your videos have truly helped me communicate with a deaf coworker, and i love that it is actually sticking! Slowly, but certainly surely! Thankyou so much

[@lindamargison7151]

Love this. I was in summer classes for a few years and college once. Unfortunately we were taught a 'pigeon ' version of asl in summers. I'm pleased you're using the more correct version. And if anyone took French they will recognize the syntaxes of French. The language was created with a French speaking gentleman.

[@lindamargison7151]

Also, my receptive skills lag so far behind my expressive sign. Gah! And reading alphabetic signs is crazy for me.

[@renbaker5124]

Lol I switched from French to ASL this year. I took 3 years of French but already can understand and communicate so much more in ASL. It just makes so much more sense. Maybe because I have APD and am a visual learner.

[@ettinakitten5047]

No, this is not French syntax. I'd actually say it's closer to Japanese, which is also a topic-comment language. Let's take the example sentence "I sleep in on the weekends" - French: je fait la grasse matinée le week-end (basically the same word order as English), Japanese: 週末は朝寝坊します (weekend topic-marker morning oversleep, basically the same as ASL except for the closing signal) The fact that a French guy founded ASL is irrelevant to the grammar. British Sign Language, which was founded by English speakers independently of ASL, doesn't have more English-like grammar than ASL does. (BSL is also topic-comment, which seems to be the most common grammatical structure for signed languages in general.)

[@bjolley8686]

I agreed with previous comments. Lots of vocabulary videos but yours seem to be the only ones for sentence structure and syntax. Hope to see many more.

[@tamicamunoz2883]

I really enjoyed you giving the examples of the sentences, but can you translate after you tell us the correct sentence structure?

[@daysleeper7209]

This is so helpful! I've been learning ASL from another source, but I have been finding the grammar difficult. Your explanation here made so much sense to me!

[@catherinetaman7702]

Hey Meredith, I love your videos! They're so helpful. I really struggle with sentence structure. One question I'm also grappling with is why some signs like the noun "teacher" is done once, where as the verb "teach" is done twice. On the other hand, the noun "chair" is done twice, but the verb "sit" is done once.

[@ettinakitten5047]

I think it's because teacher is a compound sign (teach-person). A sign with a double movement on its own usually has a single movement when used in a compound sign.

[@willowwwallow]

I loved the quiz thing at the end, but it would probably be best to include what the sentence means (or at least what some of the individual signs mean) in the future!

[@LearnHowtoSign]

Great idea.

[@adoragrayskull]

I was wondering about that. Can you tell me what did she sign?

[@Ji_omina]

I'm really so, thankyou of you .. I'm learning the asl language for my friend to have the good conversation with her ... Before I really can't understand what she saying or trying to tell me so, I end up to watch your videos and that's really amazing really really thankyou so, much for teaching us ❤❤

[@nikki-the-knife]

This was very informative on structure and I think that is what a lot of hearing signers are missing. The only thing I would recommend in the future is during the quiz at the end, to say out loud or on the screen what you signed because a couple of those words I am not familiar with which makes it harder to figure out what the structure is if I don't know what you're saying.

[@claragemheart581]

As someone who is currently learning ASL and i struggle a lot with grammar, this was helpful

[@LaceyLonon]

The way you explain and organize videos/lessons is soooo helpful! Thank you!

[@ylmessengers6112]

This was fantastic! You’re an excellent teacher!

[@LearnHowtoSign]

Thank you!

[@sarahannvroman5560]

I really enjoyed the part about learning how to do a negation. I’ve always just signed I or me no hungry or tired or angry so that was exciting. Thank you for this video series.

[@kellyngabriel2667]

This video made me understand things so much better. Would it be possible to make an ASL video about criminal law signs? Like lawyer, trial, court, judge, first degree, convicted, etc...? im a criminal justice major and I think id be useful to learn those. thanks!!

[@LearnHowtoSign]

Wow that would be a fun video. I'll add it to the list.

[@thedarknessofnana]

This video was a refresher for me and helped me realize how I signed naturally was very much in par with asl. 😄 I’m lucky my last ASL teacher in high school was actually deaf, so he taught us ASL grammar from the jump. I never really learned SEE til later when I tried translating random stuff into sign to practice. I wanna go back to ASL grammar, tho.

[@Briansgate]

Glad you explained the closing signal.

[@brittgray7586]

This is very helpful! Love seeing the vocab put to light! Please do more videos on sentence structure! Thank you for all that you and your hubby do!

[@michelleziter7484]

Meredith, my 13 year old son and I began the homeschool journey this year 😳and we chose to learn ASL together... we LOVE LOVE LOVE your videos! Anyway, could you explain the sentence structure for this question? "Have you ever been on (or ridden) a train before?" Thanks for all your hard work and making learning ASL so much fun!!! (Michelle and JJ in Vermont)

[@Isaiah_Rude0925]

Woah, so cool! The sentence structure is so similar to Japanese! They have a topic system as well, and I could easily guess the topic of each sentence by translating it into Japanese first, since I used to study it a lot lol

[@sandywebb7203]

Yes more of these please! I am hard of hearing and learning ASL, the placements confuse me often.

[@melissabywalski2595]

Great video! It was nice to learn about the sentence structure, since I am simultaneously trying to teach my hearing students while I learn myself. Keep the videos coming!

[@ewelistenwell]

Please continue to explain ASL grammar. This is helpful, and I want to know more.

[@ixchelsanchez4702]

I love your videos and they're such great help... I just have a question, why would you not sign the word "not" for "not going" but instead say "not going" all together ?

[@Jwls72]

This was so helpful!! You are a fantastic teacher! Thank you Meredith.

[@jesseb43]

You have helped make a bridge for me and my son. We are learning together and having a blast doing it!! Please don't stop making by video's

[@Carl-d9h]

Yes it is very helpful when you can sign topics sentences. Thank you... I'M going to go on skillshare to sign up for your program . I'm watching your videos now

[@MuhammadIrfan-nr4ku]

I love your videos and I don't who I'm gonna talk asl with cuz I don't know anyone who's deaf or anyone who know asl 🙂 Sorry for my bad English Hope you are having a great day and stay safe healthy happy and blessed always 🙂

[@LearnHowtoSign]

You will be ready for when that day happens.

[@MuhammadIrfan-nr4ku]

@@LearnHowtoSign if you can, can you tell me what was the right age to learn I mean the age where we will learn it easily 🙂

[@DutchPrincess3814]

I just found your channel. I have learned basic words when I was younger from a Deaf Friend . I have always wanted to learn more . Thank you for this channel 🙏

[@LowellBDennyIII]

This video was super helpful! I'm in the first part of an immersion program that kind of glosses over breaking this down. You broke it down beautifully. I watched this three times.

[@beliamacias7042]

I really appreciate this video, I hope that you post more under this subject, I think once learning more about, it will definitely help people like me to put well things together

[@rachelsobie_22]

Just found your channel and was inspired to pick up ASL again after only learning it in high school many years ago. Thank you!

[@kristintourville948]

This is really helpful as I follow the ASL 101 course. My vocab has been growing, but ASL sentence structure is what I really need now. Thanks!

[@DoreenBraun-z1q]

Thank you Merideth ..I can not speak well...asl helps me find my more nouns verbs 😊❤ I have new friends now thank you .

[@loricat5606]

Would definitely appreciate more videos on ASL sentence structure!

[@mary32mallett]

Would love more of these videos! It's so helpful to try and really understand ASL!

[@dianeboujikian6711]

Thank you SKILL SHARE!!! And yes, I need more practice with sentence structure, please

[@pattimcfarlane8504]

Bring on all the Sentence Structure Videos!! So important to learn!

[@ALEX-Extreme]

This helps a lot. ASL people are very too the point.

[@michellechouinard4958]

Yes, please do more videos like this!

[@peacewalker6776]

Brilliant! However, it would have been helpful to have had you sign some of the descriptions if not all of them.

[@vinvos8651]

Most important info: Closing signals - Basically at the end of a sentence or speaking you signal that you are done talking by using a pronoun. The specific pronoun seems to be situational. Wh- words : Why, who, when, what, where, which, how 4 types of sentences - Topic comment, Rhetorical question, Yes/no questions, Wh- questions. Topic Comment structure - Name a topic and then make a comment about that topic. - Keep in mind to make a brief pause between the topic and comment. - Also remember to affirm or negate the comment by nodding or shaking your head. Rhetorical Question structure - 1. Topic comment structure. 2. Bridge with WH- word (Why, who, when, what, where and how). 3. Finnish with another topic comment structure. - Whenever you sign the bridge it is important to raise your eyebrows to signal that it is a rhetorical question. The contrast between wh- word and yes/no eyebrow raise signals rhetoricality. - Easy way to think about it is that the wh- bridges are more like their answer counterpart, meaning "why" would instead mean "because" when used in a rhetorical question. Yes/no question structure - It is like a Topic Comment but you lean forwards and raise your eyebrows to indicate the yes/no part. It is also important to use the correct pronoun in the beginning to show who you are asking. Wh- Question Structure - Like a topic comment except you need to incorporate a wh- word and lower your eyebrows while leaning forwards.

[@HannahMallery]

This was SOO helpful!!! Thank you so so much Meredith! Also, do you mind putting a link in the comments for any other great videos on asl sentences???

[@carynkirkland4694]

This is SUUUPER Helpful! THANK YOU SO MUCH !

[@Nolongeruse930]

I can't thank you enough for all of your videos. I'm learning so much! 😃

[@StephanyMendez-c8o]

We love your videos!!! We have learn so much. We would like to learn ASL coordinating conjunctions, please.

[@jhealyngastanes9383]

Gosh! I got those four questions correctly! 😍😁

[@Eo-bo6sf]

I sometimes struggle with sentences that have multiple nouns, such as "I'm making cookies." Am I the topic, or are the cookies? Or does it depend on context?

[@deannakrause8629]

need more of this too help all the words I have learned correctly together!

[@justjenene]

Is there an app where I can type in an English sentence, and it shows me the correct ASL format? I'm learning asl from scratch and so far these videos are the most informative.

[@warrenstaben6166]

Thank you Meredith and crew!

[@LearnHowtoSign]

Anytime!

[@tracyoconnor2651]

I love your videos. You are so clear and concise. Thank you so much. So helpful.

[@LiterarySerenity]

Ah, thank you so much! I love watching your videos because you explain everything so clearly. Question: If I needed to sign, "I will go to a haunted house," would the structure be, "Me will go haunted house me?"

[@yaninloza2762]

Im a aspiring actresses. I dont know asl but Your video help me to lern some asl for my audition and I get that role. :) ❤

[@bettysvintageinspiredart]

I love your videos! could you elaborate more about the leaning from side to side, and forward?

[@allisonreigner8094]

Love this because I am struggling with sentence structure . Could you test questions at end with the sentence you were saying not in asl

[@allenmuchmore7246]

Loved this video! Please continue to teach us more about ASL syntax! Your explanations are easy to understand!

[@karenbailey2541]

Just discovered your videos. Really loving them. Thanks for sharing. 👍🏽🤟🏽

[@mitchellbernhardt2973]

i'm really learning a lot from your videos and like your way of doing it. lol learning a new language is hard but you have a very upbeat personality i wouldn't be surprised if you worked with children for a living

[@mitchellbernhardt2973]

Also learning ASL has made me more aware of how much i talk and how much i listen lately, so also thank you for giving me another perspective on conversation in general

[@emilyscott2109]

This was amazing!!!! The only thing that would have made this even better was if you had the ASL sentence with rhe signs used and then what it is written in English as well for the end quiz part.... i didnt know some of the signs you were using so it was hard to figure it out but i loved your video

[@Lalala01235]

what were the translations of the practice sentences she signed? Thanks!

[@lianghuang3]

Great video! As a computational linguist working on automatic sign language translation, this is so helpful! I have two quick questions re: topic-comment structure: (a) if you wanna translate "John loves Mary" to ASL, is the topic "John" or "Mary"? Or are both possible? (In English it seems we can topicalize either one). (b) How does ASL differentiate "John loves Mary" vs. "Mary loves John"? Thanks a lot!😁

[@-jessee-5425]

So happy I found your videos! They are so helpful! Thanks a lot

[@danielbrowniel]

I'm just starting, work in healthcare. I notice there are a lot of words I would use that ASL doesn't really care for much. Seems like ASL likes to get to the point and be as practical as possible.

[@ayishilence5723]

This is such a great channel, thank you ❤️❤️

[@StampMyArt]

This is my weakest area, thank you. Looking forward to more structure and grammar based videos. 👍❤️

[@LearnHowtoSign]

We will definitely plan on more of these.

[@taotravyuniversalist7747]

A hospitality version, or restaurant version would be great. I'm learning a lot from this and need more. I feel the need to sign my actions and things, yet cannot . I'll learn more, lol

[@hobihobi6132]

Great video!! This gonna be useful for my sign language project. Thanks for your hardwork!!!

[@oliviapedersen8008]

This video was so helpful! You should continue to make more like it.

[@eunchaelee08]

Hi Meredith! What’s the difference between the sign ‘grandma’ and ‘mom’?

[@timweatherbee4308]

I started to begin learning asl about 2 years ago but I have been seriously putting the effort into it a little more than a year. I even took several classes at my local college but with working 40-50 hours a week and volunteering with Hospice on my weekends off I don't have alot of free time. I have a strong desire to learn sign. What advise do you have for me to where I can learn at a quicker pace?

[@tamlee4731]

I've been looking for a video to explain sentence structure for ASL. Thanks

[@len-gen-darystinson9764]

Thank you so much for making this video! I have been struggling with ASL sentence structure but this video really helped.

[@LearnHowtoSign]

You're very welcome!

[@lillianabigail8613]

This is incredibly helpful! Thank you!

[@charlotteehrhart9922]

This was so helpful. Thank you. I clearly need more practice. 🙄

[@LazyWithDreams]

You’re channel is awesome❤