1. MODALS IN ASL SOME FREQUENT EXAMPLES ARE: WILL WON’T CAN CAN’T
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 WON’T
CAN CAN’T
SHOULD SHOULDN’T
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 WON’T LOAN-TO FRIEND WON’T ME t

3. TOPIC COMMENT LETTER YOU SEND-TO HER PARTY YOU PLAN SIGN YOU PRACTICE
MODALS:
WILL
WON’T
CAN
CAN’T
SHOULD
SHOULDN’T
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 (NO modal, just Y-N or WH-Q)
PARTNER 2 – RESPOND WITH MODAL BEFORE VERB
PARTNER 3 – RESPOND WITH MODAL BEFORE FINAL PRO.
PARNTER 4 – RESPOND WITH MODAL IN BOTH POSITIONS

4. MODALS: WILL WON’T CAN CAN’T SHOULD SHOULDN’T MUST REFUSE FINISH
LETTER YOU SEND-TO HER
PARTY YOU PLAN
SIGN YOU PRACTICE
UMBRELLA TOMORROW SHE-GIVE-YOU
PERFORMANCE SHE SEE
MEETING SET-UP
SIGN CLASS TAKE-UP NEXT QUARTER
DRIVE-TEST PASS
COFFEE 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
WON’T
CAN
CAN’T
SHOULD
SHOULDN’T
MUST
REFUSE
FINISH
NOT-YET
TRUE
NOT
NEVER
ALWAYS