PocketSign
Basic

Plural Pronouns and Indexing

ASL plural pronouns use space. Learn how to set up people, point back to them, and sweep your pointing hand for THEY, YOU-ALL, and WE.

All Pluralization lessons
ASL signer pointing across signing space to show a plural pronoun sweep

Watch First

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

Indexing overviewWatch indexing explained as pointing to somebody, whether present or not.
Transcript

Indexing involves pointing at somebody, whether they are there or not.

Pointing directionSee how pointing direction changes for yourself, a group, or the person you address.
Transcript

The direction changes whether you're pointing to yourself, a group, or the person you're speaking to.

HE to THEYCompare a single-person point with the plural THEY movement.
Transcript

This is the sign for he. This is the sign for they.

Group sweepWatch a group reference use a point and sweep through signing space.
Transcript

A group. They, those, them. You will point to the right and sweep your hand further right.

Sweeping for groupsWatch a sweeping motion mark a grouping or collection.
Transcript

To show a grouping or a collection of something, use the sweeping motion.

Learn It

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

ASL uses the space in front of your body like a small map. You can place a person, group, or thing in one spot, then point back to that spot later.

This pointing is called indexing. For a person who is really there, point toward the person. For someone who is not there, sign the name or noun first, then point to a clear spot in your signing space. That is what "set up" means: you give that person a place in the air.

After you set up a spot, keep using the same spot. If FRIEND is on your left, point left when you mean that friend. If TEACHER is on your right, point right when you mean that teacher.

For more than one person, use a smooth pointing sweep or arc. Instead of one quick point, move your index finger across the area where the group is located.

A smooth arc can mean THEY or YOU-ALL, depending on where you aim it. If you sweep toward the people watching you, it can mean YOU-ALL. If you sweep across a group you already set up in space, it can mean THEY.

For WE, include yourself in the movement. A beginner-friendly way to think about it is: the movement should show whether the other person is included or not.

Use your eyes to help. Look toward the spot or group as you point or sweep. Your eye gaze makes the reference easier to follow.

This is one of the most useful ASL pluralization skills because it helps you talk about families, classmates, friends, teams, and story characters without repeating every name again and again.

Try It

Practice slowly. Watch how the hand movement changes the meaning.

  1. English:That friend is nice.Decide the spot:Choose a spot on your left for FRIEND.Now sign:, point left, .
  2. English:That teacher helped me.Decide the spot:Choose a spot on your right for TEACHER.Now sign:, point right, .
  3. English:The friend and teacher talked.Decide the spots:Put FRIEND on your left and TEACHER on your right.Now sign:, point left, , point right, sweep between them, .
  4. English:Do all of you want to learn ASL?Decide the group:Look at two or three people in front of you.Now sign:sweep toward them for , ?
  5. English:We are going.Decide who is included:If you mean you and the person watching, include them in the WE movement.Now sign: .
  6. English:My friend and cousin met.Decide the spots:Put FRIEND on your left and COUSIN on your right.Now sign:, point left, , point right, sweep between them, .

Simple Examples

Read the ASL line first. A dark green pill names the hand movement or lack of extra movement.

ASL line, point left, .
MeaningThat friend is nice.
TipThe point acts like "that friend."
Hand movementpoint leftPoint to the left-side spot you set up for FRIEND. This indexing movement refers back to that friend.
ASL line, point right, .
MeaningThat teacher helped me.
TipPoint to the same right-side spot when you mean that teacher.
Hand movementpoint rightPoint to the right-side spot you set up for TEACHER. Keep using that same spot for that person.
ASL line left, right, sweep, .
MeaningThe friend and teacher talked.
TipThe arc collects both people into THEY.
Hand movementleft / right / sweepSet FRIEND on the left, set TEACHER on the right, then sweep across both spots to mean THEY.
ASL lineYOU-ALL, ?
MeaningDo all of you want to learn ASL?
TipSweep toward the people you are addressing.
Hand movementYOU-ALL sweepSweep your pointing hand toward the group you are talking to. The movement is what makes it plural.
ASL lineWE, .
MeaningWe are going to the store.
TipShape the movement so it shows who is included in WE.
Hand movementWE movementMove the WE sign so it includes yourself and the other person or group you mean.
ASL line, point left, , point right, sweep, .
MeaningMy sister and brother go to the same school.
TipSet both people up first, then sweep for THEY.
Hand movementpoint left / point right / sweepGive SISTER a left spot, BROTHER a right spot, then sweep across those spots to show they are the group.

Common Mistake

Do not set up a person on one side and then point to a different side later. Changing the spot by accident can make the viewer think you mean someone else.

Deeper Note

A little more grammar

The reference document calls these spots referential loci. That means a place in signing space stands for a person, group, place, or thing. Beginners do not need the technical term first. The useful skill is simple: set up a spot, keep it steady, and use a point or sweep to refer back to it.