ASL Sentence Structure: The
Basics
Lesson Four
Unit Two: Getting to Know You
American Sign Language I
Topic-Comment Sentence
Structure
• American Sign Language uses different
grammatical structures depending upon
what is being talked about.
• One such structure is called topiccomment sentence structure or objectsubject-verb (OSV) sentence structure.
• Example: STORE ME GO
Topic-Comment Sentence
Structure (continued)
• In topic-comment sentence structure, the signer
presents information and then makes the information
either a statement or a question by adding a comment.
• English does not use topic-comment sentence
structure so becoming used to ASL grammar can be a
challenge.
• Keep in mind that while using ASL signs in English
word order may be easy to do, it is no different that
speaking in Spanish but following English word order
– you won’t make sense in either language.
Subject-Object-Verb (OSV)
Sentence Structure
• This is the grammatical sentence structure used
in English.
• This is used in simple sentences in ASL, such
as STORE ME GO can be signed as ME GO
STORE (I am going to the store).
Rhetorical Sentence Structure
• The rhetorical in ASL uses the WH-Signs but
with the YES/NO Face instead of the WH-Face.
• You are indicating to the signer that you know
the answer.
• After signing the WH-Sign, you will continue the
sentence by answer the WH-question you
posed in the first half of the sentence.
“AND / OR” ASL Sentence Structures
• OR indicates WHICH
– Keeping in line with Topic-Comment Sentence
Structure, you would sign the choices first and then
sign WHICH
• AND indicates BOTH
– Again, keeping in line with Topic-Comment
Sentence Structure, you would sign the choices first
and then sign BOTH.
Sample Sentences of Each
Sentence Structure
• English Sample Sentence:
– I am going to the store to buy more milk.
• Topic-Comment Sentence Structure:
– MILK RUN-OUT STORE ME GO BUY
• Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) Sentence Structure:
– CANNOT BE USED BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A SIMPLE
SENTENCE.
• Rhetorical Sentence Structure:
– ME GO STORE WHY BUY MORE MILK
Sample Sentences of Each Sentence
Structure (continued)
• English Sample Sentence:
– I am going to the store to buy more milk and bread.
• AND Sentence Structure:
– ME STORE GO. ME BUY MILK BREAD BOTH.
• English Sample Sentence:
– Are you going to the store to buy milk or orange juice?
• OR Sentence Structure:
– YOU GO STORE YOU? YOU BUY MILK ORANGE #J
WHICH?
Homework Exercises
• 3C p. 91: You’ve been asked to help a friend of yours
this coming weekend, but you’re unable to help due
to several reasons. Practice signing why you can’t
help using topic-comment sentence structure, SVO
sentence structure, and Rhetorical sentence
structure. Refer to at least five different reasons.
• 4B p. 97: You want to get to know someone better.
Develop three questions using the “AND/OR”
Sentence Structures. Prepare to ask your classmate
each question.
• Due on Thursday, November 11, 2010.