MODALS IN ASL

1
MODALS IN ASL MODALS ARE SIGNS THAT ACCOMPANY
VERBS THAT PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ABOUT THE PROPERTY OF THE VERB. MODALS ARE ALSO
CALLED AUXILIARY VERBS
SOME FREQUENT EXAMPLES ARE WILL WONT CAN CAN
T SHOULD SHOULDNT MUST REFUSE FINISH NOT-YET
TRUE NOT NEVER ALWAYS
2

• MODALS OCCUR IN TWO POSSIBLE LOCATIONS IN THE
  SENTENCE.
• IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE VERB
• IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE COPY-SUBJECT- PRONOUN
• OR BOTH LOCATIONS
• BICYCLE / ME CAN LOAN-TO FRIEND ME
• BICYCLE / ME LOAN-TO FRIEND NEVER ME
• BICYCLE / ME WONT LOAN-TO FRIEND WONT ME

t
3
MODALS WILL WONT CAN CANT SHOULD SHOULDNT MUST
REFUSE FINISH NOT-YET TRUE NOT NEVER ALWAYS
TOPIC COMMENT
LETTER YOU SEND-TO HER
PARTY YOU PLAN
SIGN YOU PRACTICE
ALWAYS TOPICALIZE THE SENTENCE ALWAYS USE THE
COPY-SUBJECT PRONOUN GO DOWN THE MODAL
LIST PARTNER 1 ASK A QUESTION PARTNER 2
RESPOND WITH MODAL BEFORE VERB PARTNER 3
RESPOND WITH MODAL BEFORE FINAL PRO. PARNTER 4
RESPOND WITH MODAL IN BOTH POSITIONS
4
LETTER YOU SEND-TO HER PARTY YOU
PLAN SIGN YOU PRACTICE UMBRELLA TOMORROW
SHE-GIVE-YOU PERFORMANCE SHE SEE MEETING SET-UP S
IGN CLASS TAKE-UP NEXT QUARTER DRIVE-TEST PASS C
OFFEE YOU DRINK MORNING MY BROTHER MOVE-TO
CHICAGO MY UNCLE WORK TEACHER MY FAMILY GO SKI
FOR THANKSGIVING MY SIS, HER HUBBY LEARN PLAY
CARDS PHONE NUMBER I-GIVE-YOU LAST-WEEK, THUR ME
EAT TURKEY
MODALS WILL WONT CAN CANT SHOULD SHOULDNT MUST
REFUSE FINISH NOT-YET TRUE NOT NEVER ALWAYS