Object-Subject-Verb
Author: Gavreel Asperillia-Zhu, Ed.D.
A typical sentence is made up of three parts of speech: a subject (who or what), a verb (action), and an object (whoever or whatever receives the action).
In English, the structure that is often followed is: Subject-Verb-Object.
In ASL, the two common structures followed are: Object-Subject-Verb and Subject-Verb-Object.
It is important to understand that ASL favors Object-Subject-Verb.
Subject-Verb-Object is a viable sentence structure. However, some sentences will not make sense if followed.
Practice OSV with simple sentences. You will thank yourself in the future.
Subject
The subject is the who or what of the sentence and are the ones performing the action. This is typically going to be a person or animal. Additionally, personal pronouns are typically the subject of a sentence: me, I, he, she, they, etc.
Over the years, I have developed a four-step process to support students in translating from English to American Sign Language. I like to think of them as training wheels. These steps are great to use at the beginning of your ASL journey, but as you continue, they will no longer be necessary nor will they help you. In fact, continuing to use these steps may lead you to become confused.
Step One: Cross out the words you do not need.
There are words in English that do not exist in American Sign Language, such as linking verbs (is, am, are) and articles (a, an, the). The first step in translating is being able to identify those words that do not belong and physically cross them out.
Step Two: Identify parts of speech.
Language is flexible, and there are many possible ways to write a sentence. However, we are going to make translation formulaic. With the remaining words, identify their parts of speech: Object, Subject, Verb, Adjective, Quantifier…
Step Three: Move the words.
Rewrite the words in ASL Structure order. Do not write in GLOSS, just move the words. As you continue to learn more rules of ASL, double-check your work that each word is in its appropriate location.
Step Four: Write in GLOSS.
Now rewrite the sentence again, this time in GLOSS. Use capital letters and follow the same conventions that you will always use. Some students combine steps three and four. I caution students not to until you are confident you understand ASL structure.
Last Updated: February 19, 2025
Steps of Translation: 4 Step Process
Verb
There are many types of verbs. However, not all verb types are used in ASL. We will be looking at verbs such as, action (dynamic) verbs, stative verbs, phrasal verbs, regular verbs, irregular verbs, and gerunds.
A whole page is dedicated to verbs, please refer to that page to learn more about the different types.
To make this lesson simpler, we are only going to look at action verbs. Also known as Dynamic Verbs, these are words that express physical or mental action or actions that anyone can visualize. For example: write, read, dance, or eat.
Object
Objects are whoever or whatever receives that action. Objects, like subjects, are typically nouns. However, the object of a sentence can also be an action. Another way to help you identify the object of a sentence is to ask yourself: “What is the topic of this sentence?”
Since subjects and objects can both be nouns, a sentence may have two people in it, where one person is the subject and the other person is the object. For example, in the sentence “Heather met Sally.” Sally is the object and Heather is the subject.
Navigation
Mikey goes to school.
S
Mikey goes to school.
V
O
Step One: Cross out the words you do not need.
Step Two: Identify parts of speech.
Step Three: Move the words.
Step Four: Write in GLOSS.
Examples
Let’s take a look at some examples of going through this four-step process. As an ASL Learner, it is important that you practice each step. Write it on a piece of paper, physically complete each step. Do not try to do it all in your head, your brain is not able to do so, yet.
O
school Mikey goes.
SCHOOL fs:(mikey) GO.
S
V
The woman has a car.
S
The woman
V
has a
O
car.
Step One: Cross out the words you do not need.
Step Two: Identify parts of speech.
Step Three: Move the words.
Step Four: Write in GLOSS.
CAR WOMAN HAVE.
S
woman
V
has
O
car