To sign 'I want you,' you will combine three distinct signs in sequence. First, point to the center of your chest with your index finger for 'I'. Next, for 'WANT', hold both hands out in front of you with palms facing up and fingers slightly curved, then pull both hands toward your body while curling your fingers inward, as if pulling something toward yourself. Finally, point directly forward at the person you are talking to with your index finger for 'YOU'.
Sign 'I want you' as described, then follow up with the signs for 'come' and 'with me'. Ensure your facial expressions match the sincerity or urgency of your request.
After signing 'I want you', you can point to yourself and sign 'team'. The direct pointing in 'I' and 'you' makes it perfectly clear who is involved in the statement.
When asking this as a question, sign 'I want you' while raising your eyebrows and tilting your head slightly forward to indicate a yes/no question to your conversation partner.
Sign 'I want you' as described, then follow up with the signs for 'come' and 'with me'. Ensure your facial expressions match the sincerity or urgency of your request.
After signing 'I want you', you can point to yourself and sign 'team'. The direct pointing in 'I' and 'you' makes it perfectly clear who is involved in the statement.
When asking this as a question, sign 'I want you' while raising your eyebrows and tilting your head slightly forward to indicate a yes/no question to your conversation partner.
In ASL, pronouns can sometimes be dropped if the context is already clear. However, for a direct and specific statement like 'I want you,' signing all three words adds necessary emphasis. Because 'want' is not a directional verb, the pronouns help clarify exactly who wants whom.
'WANT' is standardly a two-handed sign. While you might occasionally see native signers use one hand in very casual, rapid conversation (especially if their other hand is occupied), beginners should always practice using both hands to ensure clarity and proper grammatical form.
You can modify the intensity of the sign 'WANT' by changing your facial expression and the speed or tension of the motion. Pulling your hands in more sharply while showing a strong, determined facial expression conveys a much stronger desire than a gentle, relaxed pull.
