How to Sign "Did"
the sign 'did' uses both hands. Bring both hands in front of you, with the palms facing up. Curl the fingers in against the palm. Tap the fingertips of the index fingers and the thumbs together.
Examples Using "Did" in a Sentence
1
What did you do today?
Sign "TODAY", point to the person for "YOU", and then use the "did" sign by tapping your index fingers and thumbs together with your palms facing up. Furrow your eyebrows to show it is a question.
2
What did he do?
Point to the person you are referring to, then perform the "did" sign by bringing both hands in front of you, palms up, and tapping the index and thumb fingertips together repeatedly.
3
I don't know what I did.
Sign "ME", then "NOT-KNOW". Finish by pointing to yourself again and using the "did" sign with your palms facing up, tapping your index fingers and thumbs together.
How to Sign "Did"
the sign 'did' uses both hands. Bring both hands in front of you, with the palms facing up. Curl the fingers in against the palm. Tap the fingertips of the index fingers and the thumbs together.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
This sign visually represents the physical act of handling, manipulating, or working with something. The pinching motion of the index fingers and thumbs mimics picking up or interacting with objects, which conceptually translates to 'doing' an action.
Signing Tips
Keep your hands relaxed and ensure your palms are clearly facing upward. The tapping motion between your index fingers and thumbs should be crisp but not overly forceful. Because this sign is frequently used to ask 'What did you do?', remember to furrow your eyebrows if you are asking a question.
Common Mistakes
A frequent mistake is facing the palms downward or forward instead of up. Another common error is using the whole hand to make a grabbing motion rather than isolating just the index fingers and thumbs to tap together.
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "Did" in a Sentence
1What did you do today?
Sign "TODAY", point to the person for "YOU", and then use the "did" sign by tapping your index fingers and thumbs together with your palms facing up. Furrow your eyebrows to show it is a question.
2What did he do?
Point to the person you are referring to, then perform the "did" sign by bringing both hands in front of you, palms up, and tapping the index and thumb fingertips together repeatedly.
3I don't know what I did.
Sign "ME", then "NOT-KNOW". Finish by pointing to yourself again and using the "did" sign with your palms facing up, tapping your index fingers and thumbs together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to use this sign for every past tense sentence?
No! In ASL, you typically establish the past tense by signing a time word like 'YESTERDAY' or 'PAST' at the beginning of your sentence. The sign shown here is most often used to mean 'What did you do?' or to emphasize an action.
Why do my palms need to face up?
Facing your palms up is a core part of this specific sign's grammar and meaning. If your palms face down, it changes the visual structure and can look like a completely different sign, which might confuse the person you are signing with.
Can I use this sign to ask a yes/no question like 'Did you eat?'
Usually, no. For a yes/no question like 'Did you eat?', you would simply sign 'YOU EAT' while raising your eyebrows and leaning forward. The sign described here is best used for open-ended questions like 'What did you do?'
ASL is a beautiful, expressive language. Practice regularly and have fun!