How to Express the Past Tense in American Sign Language Without Signing Was

In the early stages of learning American Sign Language (ASL), one of the most frequent points of confusion for English speakers is the search for small, foundational verbs like "is," "am," "are," and "was." If you have spent your entire life communicating in a language built on these auxiliary verbs, it feels unnatural to construct a sentence without them. You want to say, "I was tired," or "The movie was good," and your hands naturally search for a direct translation for that past-tense marker.

However, the most important lesson in ASL linguistics is this: American Sign Language is not a signed version of English. It is a distinct language with its own unique grammatical structure, and one of its most defining characteristics is that it does not use "to be" verbs. There is no single, direct sign for the word "was."

If you attempt to fingerspell "W-A-S" or use an "initialized" sign where you pull a "W" handshape away from your chin, you are not using ASL; you are using Manually Coded English (MCE). To communicate authentically with the Deaf community, you must shift your perspective away from English word-for-word translation and toward the spatial and temporal logic of ASL.

The Foundation of Time in ASL: The Body Timeline

To understand how to express "was" in ASL, you must first understand how space represents time. In ASL, the human body acts as a central anchor on an imaginary timeline. This concept is intuitive once you visualize it:

• The Present: The space directly in front of your body represents "now."
• The Future: The space moving forward, away from your chest and into the open area in front of you, represents things yet to come.
• The Past: The space behind you—specifically over your dominant shoulder—represents the past.

When an English speaker says "was," they are simply signaling that the state or action occurred behind them on the timeline. In ASL, we achieve this through movement toward that rear space.

Mastering the General Sign for PAST

The most direct equivalent to the concept of "was" or "before" is the sign for PAST. This is the primary tool used to establish that a conversation has shifted away from the present moment.

To execute the sign for PAST, take your dominant hand and hold it near your dominant shoulder. With your palm facing backward (toward your ear/shoulder), move your hand in a small, backward motion over your shoulder.

In our practice sessions with students, we often emphasize the "intensity" of this movement. The distance your hand travels indicates how far back in time you are referring to. A small, flicking motion might mean "a little while ago," whereas a large, sweeping motion that moves far behind your shoulder indicates the "distant past" or "long ago."

Using Time Markers to Replace Was

One of the reasons ASL is so efficient is that it establishes the timeframe at the very beginning of a sentence. Once the time is set, you do not need to repeat tense markers for every verb. This is fundamentally different from English, where we must change "eat" to "ate" or "is" to "was" in every single instance.

In ASL, once you indicate that the event happened in the past, the "was" is built into the context.

Common Past-Tense Time Markers

When you want to say something "was" a certain way, you typically start with a specific time marker. Here are the most common signs that eliminate the need for a "was" sign:

1. YESTERDAY: Form a "Y" handshape (thumb and pinky extended) or a "10" handshape (thumb up). Touch your thumb to your chin and then move it back to touch near your jawline or ear. By starting your sentence with YESTERDAY, everything that follows is understood to be in the past tense.
2. RECENTLY: Place your dominant hand's index finger near your cheek and move it in a small, tight, backward circular or flicking motion. This is the ASL way of saying "I was just doing this" or "This just happened."
3. BEFORE / AGO: Use a flat hand and move it backward over your shoulder (similar to the sign for PAST). This is often used to say "Previously, things were like this."
4. LAST WEEK / LAST MONTH: These are compound signs. For LAST-WEEK, you sign WEEK (sliding your index finger across your non-dominant palm) and then immediately swing your hand back over your shoulder.

Example Transformation:

• English: "I was happy yesterday."
• ASL Structure: YESTERDAY ME HAPPY.
• Why it works: The sign YESTERDAY acts as the anchor. You do not need to add a sign for "was" between "Me" and "Happy" because the temporal context is already established.

The Role of the FINISH Sign

In some contexts, "was" is used to indicate that an action is completed. For example, "I was eating" vs. "I finished eating." In ASL, the sign FINISH (or "Completed") is a powerful grammatical tool.

To sign FINISH, hold both hands in front of you with palms facing your chest. Then, quickly flick your hands outward so your palms face forward. This is often accompanied by a specific mouth shape—a quick "fish" or "pah" sound made with the lips.

Using FINISH at the end of a verb phrase signals the "perfective aspect," meaning the action is over. It replaces the need for "was" or "have been."

• English: "I was there."
• ASL Structure: ME THERE FINISH. (Meaning: I have already been there / I was there).

Why ASL Does Not Use "To Be" Verbs

To truly master the language, you have to understand the "why" behind the lack of a "was" sign. ASL is a visual-spatial language. In English, verbs like "is" and "was" act as "copulas"—they are linguistic "glue" that connects a subject to a description (e.g., "The grass is green").

In a visual language, that glue is unnecessary. If you sign GRASS and then sign GREEN, the visual relationship between the two signs in space automatically links them. Adding a sign for "is" or "was" would be like drawing a line between two pictures when the pictures are already touching. It is redundant.

When we talk about the past, we simply move the "stage" of our signing to the past area of our timeline. Once the stage is set, the relationship between the subject and the predicate remains direct.

The Controversy of Initialized Signs and Signed English

During your research, you may encounter videos where people sign "was" by moving a "W" handshape from their chin and changing it to an "S" handshape as they move it back. It is vital to recognize that this is not native ASL.

This sign was invented as part of various Manually Coded English (MCE) systems, such as Signing Exact English (SEE). These systems were created by hearing educators to try and teach Deaf children the exact word order and morphemes of English.

Most members of the Deaf community find these initialized signs cumbersome and "English-heavy." If you use the "W-to-S" sign for "was," a native signer will understand you, but you will sound like someone speaking "broken" ASL with a heavy English accent. If your goal is true fluency and cultural respect, stick to the timeline and time markers.

Non-Manual Markers: The "Hidden" Past Tense

In ASL, your face and body do just as much work as your hands. These are called Non-Manual Markers (NMMs). When you are talking about something that "was" (the past), your body often gives subtle cues.

1. The Head Tilt: Often, when referring to the past, signers will slightly tilt their head back or lean their body slightly backward. This physically places the signer in the "past" zone of the timeline.
2. The "Past" Mouth Morpheme: When using the sign for PAST, many signers slightly pull the corners of their mouth back or use a "long ago" facial expression (squinted eyes) if the event was a long time ago.
3. Eye Gaze: Your eyes might look slightly "away" or toward the space behind your shoulder to indicate you are reflecting on a memory rather than talking about the present.

Sentence Structure Practice: From English to ASL

Let's look at how to translate common "was" sentences into natural ASL. This will help you break the habit of looking for a specific "was" sign.

1. Describing a State of Being

• English: "She was sick."
• ASL: BEFORE SHE SICK. (Or: PAST SHE SICK).
• Note: You establish the time first (BEFORE), then state the subject and the condition.

2. Describing a Past Profession

• English: "He was a teacher."
• ASL: LONG-AGO HE TEACHER.
• Note: Using "LONG-AGO" clarifies that he is no longer a teacher.

3. Asking a Question

• English: "Was the test hard?"
• ASL: TEST HARD? (Accompanied by raised eyebrows and a slight backward head tilt).
• Note: In a conversation where the context of the test is already known to be in the past, you don't even need a time marker. The eyebrows and context do all the work.

4. Describing a Location

• English: "I was at the store."
• ASL: STORE ME GO FINISH. (Or: RECENTLY ME STORE).
• Note: ASL often focuses on the action (going) or the timeframe (recently) rather than the state of "being" at a location.

Common Pitfalls for ASL Beginners

When students try to force "was" into their signing, it usually leads to several common errors that can make communication confusing:

• Fingerspelling "W-A-S": This stops the flow of the conversation. ASL is meant to be fluid. Stopping to spell a three-letter function word is like a speed bump in the middle of a highway.
• Overusing the PAST sign: You don't need to sign PAST before every sentence. Once you've said YESTERDAY, you can sign ten more sentences about that day without ever indicating the past again. The "tense" stays active until you change it with a new time marker like NOW or TOMORROW.
• Forgetting the Timeline: Some beginners try to sign "was" by moving their hand forward. Remember: Forward is the future. If you sign a sentence and move your hand forward, you are saying "This will happen," not "This was."

Summary of Techniques for "Was" in ASL

Since there is no single sign, here is your "cheat sheet" for how to handle "was" in various contexts:

FAQ: Signing "Was" in ASL

Is it ever okay to use the initialized "W-to-S" sign for "was"?

While you might see it used in educational settings that follow Manually Coded English or by hearing people who are not fluent in ASL, it is generally avoided in the Deaf community. If you are in a formal ASL class or communicating with native signers, it is best to avoid it and use the timeline-based grammar.

How do I know if someone is talking about the past if they don't sign "was"?

Look for the very first sign of the conversation. ASL signers almost always establish the time frame immediately. If the first sign is "LAST-WEEK" or "BEFORE," the entire rest of the story is in the past. Also, watch for the signer's body—if they are leaning slightly back, they are likely discussing past events.

Does this apply to "were," "is," and "am" as well?

Yes. ASL does not have signs for "were," "is," "am," or "are." All of these "to be" verbs are handled through spatial relationships, time markers, and non-manual markers.

What if I want to emphasize that something "used to" be true?

There is a specific sign for USED-TO (which looks like the sign for "past" but with a slightly different rhythmic movement). This is very effective for sentences like "I was a runner (but I'm not anymore)."

Conclusion: Thinking Like a Signer

Learning how to sign "was" in ASL is less about learning a new handshape and more about unlearning the habits of English. To speak ASL fluently, you must stop thinking in words and start thinking in concepts and time.

By utilizing the Body Timeline, mastering Time Markers, and understanding the utility of the FINISH sign, you can accurately and expressively convey any past event. Remember that ASL is a visual language—let the space around you tell the story of when things happened, and you will find that the word "was" isn't missing at all; it was simply replaced by a much more vivid and efficient system of spatial grammar.

As you continue your ASL journey, focus on observing native signers. Notice how they rarely look "back" unless they are setting the scene. Once that scene is set, the past becomes the present in the "here and now" of the conversation. This immersion in the timeline is what makes American Sign Language such a unique and powerful tool for communication.