ASL Review Questions

The topic of a sentience is first described, followed by a comment about the topic.

Rule #1 Topic/comment

The sign NOT can be placed before the verb or at the end of the sentence.

Rule #10 Negation

A sign such as LAST-YEAR can be used to establish the tense of a sentence.

Rule #2 Tense with time adverbs

The order of signs in this type of question is variable.

Rule #3 Simple yes/no questions

First the topic is described and then the sign that is asking a yes/no question about the topic is placed at or near the end of the sentence.

Rule #4 Long yes/no questions

In a wh-question, the sign for the wh-word is usually placed at or near the end of the question.

Rule #5 Information-seeking questions

A signer points to a place in the signing space to establish a referent point for a person or thing.

Rule #6 Pronominalization

A question is asked and then the signer answers it.

Rule #7 Rhetorical questions

In some sentences, the verb can follow the object.

Rule #8 Ordering of simple sentences

Nonmanual signals can be used in place of the signs IF and SUPPOSE.

Rule #9 Conditional sentences