Different ASL Sentence Types

Learna about the different ASL sentence types

Yes/No Question

A question that can be answered with yes or no.

• Example: “Are you a student?”

• Face: Raise your eyebrows and lean forward slightly.

• Remember: Eyebrows UP.

WH-word Question

A question using who, what, where, when, why, or how.

• Example: “Where do you live?”

• Face: Lower or furrow your eyebrows.

• Remember: Eyebrows DOWN.

3. Affirmative Statemen

A sentence that says something is true or happens.

• Example: “I like pizza.”

• Face: Neutral or natural expression, sometimes with a slight nod.

• Remember: You're stating something

4. Negative Statement

A sentence that says something is not true or does not happen.

• Example: “I don't like pizza.”

• Face/body: Shake your head no; use the appropriate negative sign, such as NOT or DON'T.

• Remember: You're denying something

5. Topic and comment

You put the topic first to show what you're talking about, then give information about it (the comment).

• English: “The ball, the boy threw.”

• Topic: THE BALL

• Comment: BOY THROW

• Face: Raise your eyebrows during the topic, then shift to a normal expression for the comment.

Remember: Topic first, then comment.

6. Rhetorical Question/Statement

You ask a question that you answer yourself. You're not expecting another person to answer.

• Example: “MY FAVORITE FOOD, WHAT? PIZZA!”

• Face: Often raise your eyebrows for the question, then answer it.

• Remember: Ask yourself, then answer yourself.

7. Conditional with Yes/No Question

• Example: “IF YOU FINISH HOMEWORK, CAN YOU GO OUT?”

• Meaning: If you finish your homework, can you go out?

• Face: Eyebrows raised during the IF clause; use yes/no question facial expression for the question.

8. Conditional with WH-word Question

• Example: “IF STORE CLOSED, WHERE WE GO?”

• Meaning: If the store is closed, where will we go?

• Face: Raised eyebrows during IF; furrowed eyebrows for WHERE.

8. Conditional with WH-word Question

• Example: “IF STORE CLOSED, WHERE WE GO?”

• Meaning: If the store is closed, where will we go?

• Face: Raised eyebrows during IF; furrowed eyebrows for WHERE.

9. Conditional with Affirmative Statement

• Example: “IF I HAVE TIME, I WILL HELP YOU.”

• Meaning: If I have time, I'll help you.

• Face: Raised eyebrows during IF; a normal expression for the statement.

10. Conditional with Negative Statement

• Example: “IF RAIN, WE NOT GO OUT.”

• Meaning: If it rains, we won't go out.

• Face: Raised eyebrows during IF; use a negative headshake or other appropriate negative marker in the second part.

11. Imperatives

Commands, instructions, or requests telling someone to do something.

• Example: “SIT DOWN!”

• Face/body: Firm expression, direct eye contact, and an appropriate movement.

• Remember: You're telling someone to do something.

12. Relative Clause

A part of a sentence that describes a person or thing, often equivalent to who, that, or which in English.

• Example: “THE BOY WHO WEARS RED SHIRT, MY FRIEND.”

• Meaning: The boy who wears a red shirt is my friend.

• Face/body: Facial expression and body shifts can mark the descriptive clause, depending on the construction.

• Remember: It gives extra information about a noun.

14. Assertive Question

A question asked with a strong sense of certainty, emphasis, or expectation that the listener will agree or confirm something. The precise meaning can vary by ASL curriculum.

• Example: “YOU FINISHED ALREADY?”

• Meaning: You're emphasizing your expectation or surprise that the person finished.

• Face/body: Strong emphasis and a facial expression that fits the context.

• Remember: A question with a strong attitude or expectation.

Negative Question

A question containing a negative idea, such as isn't, don't, or haven't.

• Example: “YOU DON'T LIKE COFFEE?”

• Meaning: You don't like coffee?

• Face/body: Use the appropriate negative marker and question expression. The exact expression depends on whether you're surprised, confirming, or challenging something.

• Remember: A question with a negative meaning.

NEGATION

NO, NOT, REFUSE, NOT YET, CANT, NEVER, NONE