American Sign Language (ASL) Series 3 Lesson 5: More Phrases
By Elaine Ernst Schneider
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| eat | you | yet |
Have you eaten, yet? Which do you want, juice or tea?  |  |  |  |  |
| like | which | best | football | baseball |
Which do you like best, football or baseball?  |  |  |  |  |  |
| past | night | why | you | sleep | not |
Why didn’t you sleep last night? | Signs | Description of Sign Action |
| |
| baseball | Pantomime gripping a baseball bat with both “S” hands and then swinging at an imaginary ball. |
| best | Touch lips with the fingertips of the right flat hand (fingers together.) Then move the hand across the lips and to the right and then upward to above head, ending in the “a” hand position. Note: This sign’s meaning comes from the association of giving something a taste and then affirming something good with a “thumbs-up.” |
| football | Push a right “a” hand (thumb turned upward) outward twice across the left upturned palm of the left hand, as if kicking the football out of the left hand. |
| juice | The letter “j” sign swings wide towards your mouth. |
| like | Place the right thumb and index finger against the chest as if picking lint from the shirt. Then pull the right hand away from the body, bringing the thumb and index finger together. Note: Some signers use the thumb and middle finger for this sign. |
| night | Hold the left arm in a horizontal position in front of the body, fingers pointing right, palm down. Place the right forearm on the back of the left hand, fingers curved downward. |
| not | Using the right “a” hand, brush thumb under chin and move hand forward. |
| past | Move the right flat hand backward over the right shoulder and “wave” slightly as if throwing the past behind you. |
| sleep | Hold a semi-open hand in front of your eyes, then close them gradually as you bring them down, to mimic closing your eyes. |
| tea | Use the thumb and index finger of the right hand to mimic dipping a tea bag into the left “s” hand which represents a teacup. Slightly rotate the wrist as if “swishing” the tea bag in the hot water. |
| want | Extend both hands forward, palms up. Move both open curved hands toward the chest several times, as if drawing in the desired object. |
| which | Alternately move vertical “a” hands up and down 2 or 3 times. |
| why | Place fingers of the right bent hand on the forehead. Then move the right hand forward (palm turned toward the body) changing the formation into a “Y” hand as you move. |
| you | Point in the direction of where someone is located. If no one is there, point to an “imaginary” person. |
