1. Past, Present and Future
All languages have ways to talking about present, past, or future periods of time. Distinguishing periods of time is called tense.

2. In ASL, tense is formed by the addition of certain signs called tense markers to the beginning of a sentence that is then understood to be in the past or future tense.

3. If there are no tense markers, then the sentence is in the present tense.

4. The ASL Timeline diagram illustrates how tense is formed in ASL
The ASL Timeline diagram illustrates how tense is formed in ASL. This timeline divides your signing space into three regions: The present, past, and future areas.

5. Tense marker for the past: their movement towards or over the shoulder
Example: YESTERDAY I GO STORE.

6. Future tense complete their movement ahead of the body
Future tense complete their movement ahead of the body. Example: TOMORROW I GO SCHOOL.

8. Let’s Practice Present Tense I am learning ASL. I go to school at 9.
I live in California.
I like to eat pizza.
She likes her car.
He needs a new book.
Today I’m going to the mall.
I need to go to work.
Past Tense
I learned ASL.
I went to school at 9.
I used to live in California.
She got a new car.
He bought a new book.
I went to the mall
I already went to work.

9. The Rule of 9
The Rule of 9 is a pattern that influences a concept’s duration, or how long something lasts. It is used when signing about a specific period of time or age. This period is included with the base sign, so that the difference between week and nine weeks is the incorporation of the number nine into the dominant hand. Only numbers up to 9 may be incorporated into a sign.

10. Why can’t larger numbers follow the
I Want to Know….
Why can’t larger numbers follow the
Rule of 9?
ASL numbers 1-9 are easy to see and don’t require additional movement, unlike numbers such as 11, 25, or Combining signs that involve movement into numbers signs would be awkward and cumbersome! But note that the Rule of 9 and the minute sign have change over time, so perhaps others will as well.

11. Look at the Examples Below
Use the Rule of 9 with:
Age
Specific time of day
Specific of hours
Specific of minutes
Specific days
Specific of week
Specific numbers of month
Specific amounts of money

12. The Rule of 9
Age
OLD4
OLD7
OLD8
OLD19
OLD26
OLD67
OLD12
OLD70

13. The Rule of 9 Hours 4 hours 7 hours 15 hours 48 hours 72 hours 6 hour
Minutes
3 minutes
7 minutes
9 minutes
16 minutes
30 minutes
25 minutes
2 minutes
55 minutes

14. The Rule of 9 Days 3 days 8 days 14 days 18 days 28 days 36 days
Weeks
2 weeks
6 weeks
23 weeks
52 weeks
12 weeks
7 weeks
25 weeks
17 weeks

15. The Rule of 9 Months 1 month 2 months 5 months 12 months 23 months
Years
3 years
6 years
2 years from now
In 4 years
15 years
25 years
3 years ago
4 year ago

16. Time
1:00
3:00
5:00
7:00
9:00
10:00
11:00

17. Practice Sentences
Write the following sentences into ASL Gloss. 7 Sentences

18. Sentences Last week I drive Dallas 2. 3-months ago I got new car.
______________________________________________________________________
Last week I drive Dallas
________________________________________________________________________________
2. 3-months ago I got new car.
_______________________________________________________________________________
3. Time-11:30 I need go work.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. 5-year ago I graduate from high school
_________________________________________________________________________________________
5. 4-Days future I see my friend.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
6. 5 minutes future school starts.
______________________________________________________________
7. Today I work 6-hours

19. You will sign this to the teacher
Write a sentence for each in ASL Gloss using the following:
Age
Days (1 day)
Hours
Minutes
Time of Day (1:00)
Weeks
Months