To sign 'gave' (which is the same sign as 'give'), form 'X' handshapes with both hands. Hold them in front of your chest with your palms facing each other. Move both hands forward simultaneously, as if you are handing an object to someone. In ASL, this sign is directional, meaning you can change the starting and ending points to show who is giving to whom.
Sign 'JACKET', then use the 'gave' sign starting near your chest and moving outward toward the person you are referring to.
Sign 'IDEA', then start the 'gave' sign away from your body and move it inward toward your chest to show that she gave it to you.
Sign 'TICKETS', then move the 'gave' sign from your space outward toward the location of the group you are giving the tickets to.
Sign 'JACKET', then use the 'gave' sign starting near your chest and moving outward toward the person you are referring to.
Sign 'IDEA', then start the 'gave' sign away from your body and move it inward toward your chest to show that she gave it to you.
Sign 'TICKETS', then move the 'gave' sign from your space outward toward the location of the group you are giving the tickets to.
No, ASL does not conjugate verbs for tense. You use the exact same sign for 'give' and 'gave'. To indicate that the action happened in the past, you establish the timeframe at the beginning of your sentence using signs like 'PAST' or 'YESTERDAY'.
While the two-handed version is very common and clear, you will often see fluent signers use just one hand in casual, everyday conversation. Both versions are perfectly acceptable.
You can sweep the sign in an arc as you move it outward to indicate giving to a group, or make the sign multiple times in different directions to show giving to several individuals.
