ASL 102 – SN 6 / Time Indicator
In ASL the tense of the sentence is
determined by the Time Indicator (TI).
Not all time signs are used as time
indicators.
Time indicators are used to refer us to
a specific time in the past, present or
future.
Time indicator rules:
1) Time indicators begin phrases at the beginning of
the topic phrase or at the comment phrase.
If TI appears at the beginning of the topic phrase, TI
sign tends to be on hold before the topic signs.
If TI appears at the beginning of the comment phrase,
there is no hold on the TI sign.
Example:
LAST WEEK TV ME BUY ME
TV LAST WEEK ME BUY ME
Time indicator rules:
2) General to specific – when two or more time
indicators are combined together the most
general sign is given first, then the next most
general sign and lastly the most specific sign.
Example:
LAST-WEEK MONDAY MORNING TIME 9:00 TV ME BUY ME
Common Time Indicator Glosses
PRESENT
NOW-DAY
THIS-WEEK
THISMONTH
THIS-YEAR
AGO
YESTERDAY
LAST-WEEK
LASTMONTH
LAST-YEAR
FUTURE
TOMORROW
NEXT-WEEK
NEXTMONTH
NEXT-YEAR
EACH
DAILY
WEEKLY
MONTHLY
YEARLY
MORNING
NOON
AFTERNOON
EVENING
NIGHT
DAY
ALL-DAY
ALL-NIGHT
MIDNIGHT
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
UP-TILLNOW
UNTIL
FROM-NOWON
BEFORE
O’CLOCK
Take turns with partner. Signing the following topic phrase and add
your own comment phrase:
(topic phrase)
1. THURSDAY A.M. OLYMPIA
(comment phrase)
[insert your own comments]
2. DAILY BOOK STORE
3. EVERY TWO WEEKS WEDNESDAY, P. M. 5:00 ROOM BE1110
4. YESTERDAY FOOD STORE
5. EVERY MORNING COMMUTE TO SCHOOL
6. THREE-WEEKS AGO MY DIRTY SOCKS
7. LAST YEAR MY CONDO DOWNTOWN
8. EVERY FRIDAY FRENCH RESTAURANT
9. TOMORROW GRANDMA’S LUGGAGE
10. EVERY MORNING NEWSPAPER
Take turns with partner. Signing the following topic phrase and
add your own comment phrase:
11.
THREE-WEEKS FUTURE MY NEW MOTORCYLE
12.
LAST YEAR FANCY BLACK BOOTS
13.
EVERY FRIDAY GO-OUT BAR
14.
NEXT TUESDAY A. M. GOLD EARRINGS
15.
SUNDAYS NOON MY BROTHER’S DAUGHTER
16.
PAST MONTH THIRD WEEK TUESDAY ROCK MUSIC BAND
17.
TWO-DAYS-PAST AFTERNOON 2:30 PURPLE ORANGE SHOE
18.
EVERY-NIGHT SINCE ME AGE-7
19.
NEXT-WEEK TEACHER
20.
MONDAYS FRIDAYS ALL-DAY MY UNCLE’S NEIGHBOR