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Negative Signs and Emphasis

Manual negative signs like NOT, CAN'T, DON'T-WANT, and DON'T-KNOW are stronger when the negative face stays with them.

All Negation lessons
ASL signer using a negative sign with a headshake for emphasis

Watch First

Use these short PocketSign clips to see the face and head movement before you practice.

Negation examplesWatch how negative meaning can be shown with signs and head movement together.

Learn It

Start with the simple version, then practice it with real signs.

ASL can use manual negative signs, such as NOT, CAN'T, DON'T-WANT, and DON'T-KNOW.

The headshake still matters. The face and head are not optional decorations.

Sometimes a negative sign appears near the end of a sentence for emphasis.

When the negative idea covers the whole sentence, keep the headshake active across the whole negative part.

For a beginner, do not worry about fancy grammar names. Ask: what part am I making negative?

If the whole idea is negative, let the headshake cover the whole idea.

Manual signs helpNOT, CAN'T, DON'T-WANT, and DON'T-KNOW make negation obvious.
Headshake still belongsUse the negative face with the manual negative sign.
ScopeIf the whole sentence is negative, keep the headshake over the whole negative idea.

Try It

Practice slowly. Make the face before the sentence is over.

  1. Sign with a headshake.
  2. Sign with a headshake through .
  3. Sign with a headshake during .
  4. Sign with a headshake through .
  5. Sign , , with a headshake across the whole negative idea.
  6. Try the same winter sentence with the headshake only at the end. Notice how unclear it feels.

Simple Examples

Read the ASL line first. A dark green pill names what your face or head is doing.

ASL line. headshake
MeaningNo.
TipThe sign and the headshake agree.
Face actionheadshakeShake your head side to side with NO.
no
ASL line . headshake
MeaningI do not want milk.
TipThe manual negative sign and headshake work together.
Face actionheadshakeKeep the headshake through DON'T-WANT MILK.
dont wantmilk
ASL line . headshake
MeaningI do not know.
TipDON'T-KNOW already carries negative meaning, but the headshake still supports it.
Face actionheadshakeUse the headshake during DON'T-KNOW.
dont know
ASL line . headshake
MeaningI cannot go.
TipCAN'T is a manual negative sign.
Face actionheadshakeShake through CAN'T GO.
cantgo
ASL line . headshake all
MeaningI do not like soup.
TipNOT at the end can add emphasis, but the headshake should cover the negative idea.
Face actionheadshake allKeep the headshake across LIKE SOUP NOT.
likesoupnot
ASL line, , . headshake all
MeaningI do not like winter with a lot of snow.
TipThe headshake covers the whole negative idea, not just the last sign.
Face actionheadshake allHold the headshake across the full negative sentence.
wintersnowlike

Common Mistake

Do not save the headshake for only the final NOT or DON'T-LIKE sign when the whole sentence is negative. The viewer needs to see the negative scope as the sentence unfolds.

Deeper Note

A little more grammar

The source document describes this as negation scope. If there is no manual negative sign, the headshake often needs to spread over the whole verb phrase. If a negative sign is placed at the end for emphasis, keep the headshake active over the full negative idea.